TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

Rail Projects

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which schemes will be completed within the period of the 10-Year Plan for rail; and if he will make a statement on the adequacy of funding of the programme.

David Jamieson: The Government, through their 10-Year Plan, remain committed to delivering a better, safer and more reliable railway network for the 21st century, and are prepared to spend over £30 billion over the next 10 years to achieve substantial improvements.
	We look to the Strategic Rail Authority's forthcoming strategic plan to prioritise investment projects that deliver the greatest value for money for both rail users and the taxpayer. Investment is continuing on the west coast route modernisation project, Channel Tunnel Rail Link and the installation of the train protection warning system, each of which is integral to the Government's objectives for rail.

A449

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the A449 in Worcestershire will cease to be a trunk road; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The de-trunking of the A449, previously programmed by the Highway Authority for April 2004, is on hold pending the outcome of the west midlands area multi-modal study.

Electoral Pilot Schemes

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if he will publish a list of submissions by local authorities to participate in electoral pilot schemes in local elections or local by-elections in the forthcoming 12 months;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to minimise electoral fraud in the pilot schemes for new electoral arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Byers: Local authorities have been invited to submit details of proposed electoral pilot schemes for approval by the Secretary of State by 31 December 2001. We intend to publish a list of those applications as soon as possible after that date.
	The invitation to local authorities indicates that the Secretary of State will approve only schemes which meet a number of criteria, one of which is that they must maintain or increase current levels of security.

Car Safety

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the effects of implementing EEVC-WG17 on (a) child and (b) adult pedestrian casualties in absolute and in percentage terms.

David Jamieson: The Transport Research Laboratory is currently examining this issue on our behalf, and as soon as figures are established we will make them available.

Belfast/London Air Services

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will ensure that there is continuity of service throughout the day between Belfast International and London Heathrow; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: This Government recognise the importance of air links between Belfast and London. There are 29 air services scheduled for each weekday between Belfast and London operating on a commercial basis.

Regional Air Services

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action has been taken by his Department to introduce Public Service Obligation protection for the slots used for services to and from the UK regions at Heathrow and Gatwick airports; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: The use of Public Service Obligations is governed by EC Regulation 2408–92 on access for Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes. Any application for the imposition of a PSO from the relevant authorities will be carefully considered while taking the criteria set out in the regulation into account.

Regional Air Services

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if the White Paper for UK Aviation will include proposals for at least one new runway at (a) Heathrow and (b) Gatwick and that such a runway be designed for and a significant proportion of the slots created by such an additional runway capacity be designated for UK regional air services; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: The South East and East of England Study (SERAS) is examining a wide range of options at existing airports and new sites. We expect the study to be completed towards the end of this year, and to be followed by a full public consultation on the short-listed options early next year. Decisions made following the consultation will feed into an Air Transport White Paper which we aim to publish in the second half of next year.

Neighbourhood Renewal

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions who the representative of the Scottish Executive is on the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal.

Sally Keeble: holding answer 19 October 2001
	Neighbourhood renewal is a devolved matter for Scotland. The National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal applies only to deprived areas in England.
	The Scottish Executive will be publishing a Neighbourhood Renewal Statement for Scotland—due at the end of the year—which will set out a programme of action to regenerate disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Scotland.
	We shall be seeking to ensure close contact between the English and Scottish approaches to Neighbourhood Renewal.

Road Safety

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what evidence his Department has received concerning the link between speed cameras on roads and improved road safety; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The results of the first year's operation of the speed camera funding scheme provide further evidence of the link between the presence of speed cameras and improved road safety. The number of people killed or seriously injured dropped by 18 per cent. across the eight pilot areas as a whole and by 47 per cent. at the camera sites compared with the average over the previous three years. On average the number of drivers speeding at camera sites dropped from 55 per cent. to 16 per cent.

National Air Traffic Services

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if it is his policy that National Air Traffic Services operated at Manchester will be moved to Atlantic House, Prestwick;
	(2)  if he will list the options being considered by National Air Traffic Services to rationalise its functions throughout the United Kingdom;
	(3)  if the Civil Aviation Radar Installation Service will be moved from Prestwick to Gatwick Airport as part of the engineering review of National Air Traffic Services.

David Jamieson: As part of its long term investment plan, NATS intends progressively to move to a two-centre strategy with modern facilities at Swanwick in Hampshire and Prestwick in Ayrshire. As part of that strategy, the existing area control centres at West Drayton and Manchester will close in the latter part of this decade. The current plan is that the majority of the task undertaken by Manchester will be moved to Prestwick, with the remainder moving to Swanwick. These plans are under detailed evaluation to find the optimum division of operational tasks between Swanwick and Prestwick.

Coastguard Service

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many representations the Government have received from (a) individuals in the coastguard service and (b) others calling for greater coastguard cover around south-east Scotland in the last 12 months.

David Jamieson: Other than from the hon. Member on behalf of a constituent there have been no representations to the Government in the last 12 months for greater coastguard cover around south-east Scotland.

Coastguard Service

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps the Government will take to maintain a comprehensive coastguard service for south-east Scotland.

David Jamieson: There is already a comprehensive coastguard service available for south-east Scotland, which includes a 24 hour search and rescue capability, 17 rescue teams, and the provision of appropriate helicopters and lifeboats.

Channel Tunnel Rail Link

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the latest estimate is of the cost of building the next phase of the channel tunnel rail link between Ebbsfleet and King's Cross.

David Jamieson: holding answer 22 October 2001
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Streatham (Keith Hill), to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) on 10 April 2001, Official Report, column 502W.

Station Refurbishment

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what funding will be made available from the Government for the planned improvements to Bexhill and Cooden Beach stations;
	(2)  when the refurbishments to Bexhill station will be completed.

David Jamieson: The internal structural repairs at Bexhill station have been completed. South Central are negotiating with Railtrack start dates and costs for the next phase of the refurbishment work: replacement of windows and refurbishing the waiting room. It is hoped to complete this phase in late spring 2002. South Central is also in discussion with Railtrack about improvements to the platform ramps and reglazing work at Cooden Beach, as well as the funding arrangements for the work at both stations.

GoVia

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the impact of the recent Railtrack developments on the timetable and content of GoVia's existing franchise and the timetable and content of GoVia's proposed franchise.

David Jamieson: The recent Railtrack developments will not impact on the existing or new franchise. The Strategic Rail Authority will negotiate a new franchise agreement with GoVia in line with the heads of terms that have already been signed.

Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will ask Lord Cullen to review his recommendations set out in The Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry, Part 2 report to take account of Railtrack plc being replaced by a Government-owned non profit-making company.

John Spellar: No. The future ownership of Britain's railways was not part of Lord Cullen's remit.

Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he informed Lord Cullen of the possibility of Railtrack being placed in railway administration and being replaced by a non profit-making company prior to the publication of The Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry, Part 2 report.

John Spellar: No.

Transport Plan

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how he intends to deliver the planned private investment in the railway set out in the 10-year transport plan.

John Spellar: The Government intend to propose that a private sector company limited by guarantee should succeed Railtrack. This new company would be financially sound and structured so that it would achieve at least a BBBand potentially higher investment grade credit rating. We are confident that this credit rating, combined with income from track access charges and network grants, would enable the new company to deliver the 'Railtrack elements' of private investment included within the 10-Year Plan.
	We are confident that private sector investment will continue to be raised as planned for the completion of the channel tunnel rail link and for substantial new investment in rolling stock. We have envisaged for some time that major enhancement projects would be taken forward by standalone special purpose vehicles. The Government are continuing to develop their framework for establishing these vehicles.

Stingray Camera System

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what has been the total cost of the Stingray camera system for combating vehicles excise duty evasion.

David Jamieson: The cost of 11 Stingray camera systems, the vans in which the systems are housed, plus a fault monitoring and security system was 1.1 million. Use of the systems is expected to result in recovery of some 9 million per annum.

Housing

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much land owned by English Partnerships designated for affordable housing units has been sold without a requirement for the same number of affordable housing units to be built; how much of such land has been designated for affordable low cost housing in Chorley; and how much of such land has been sold for housing in Chorley in each of the last three years.

Sally Keeble: There is no difference between the number of affordable housing units earmarked for a particular English Partnerships (EP) site and those actually built. This is because the housing provider has a contractual obligation to provide the same number of affordable housing units as initially agreed between EP and the local authority.
	No land has been designated for affordable housing in Chorley over the last three years. EP's main land ownership in Chorley is at Eaves Green. Chorley borough council considers the site unsuitable as a location for affordable housing as it is on the urban edge and remote from the town centre. EP's other land holdings in Chorley are currently safeguarded under the current local plan which means that development on them is precluded for the timeframe of the plan.

Pedestrian Protection

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the organisations consulted by his Department in the recent consultation on pedestrian protection; and if he will place in the Library a summary of the responses received.

David Jamieson: We consulted the following:
	Association of Chief Police Officers
	Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland)
	Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd.
	Automobile Association
	Bentley Motors Ltd.
	BMW (GB) Ltd.
	BRAKE
	Bristol Cars Ltd.
	British Medical Association
	British Motorcyclists Federation
	Caterham Cars Ltd.
	Child Accident Protection Trust
	Chrysler Jeep
	Chrysler Jeep Imports UK
	Citroen UK Ltd.
	Colt Car Company Ltd.
	Consumer Association
	Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
	County Surveyors' Society
	Cyclists' Touring Club
	Daewoo Cars Ltd.
	Daihatsu UK Ltd.
	Department for Education and Skills
	Department of Health
	Department of Trade and Industry
	Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee
	DoE Northern Ireland
	Driving Standards Agency
	Fiat Auto UK Ltd.
	Ford Motor Co. Ltd.
	Freight Transport Association
	General Motors
	Hawk Cars
	Health and Safety Executive
	Highways Agency
	Home Office
	Honda UK
	Hyundai Car UK Ltd.
	Isle of Man
	Jaguar Cars Ltd.
	KIA Cars (UK) Ltd.
	Lada Cars
	Lamborghini Cars
	Land Rover
	Local Authority Road Safety Officers Association
	Local Government Association
	Lotus Cars Ltd.
	Mazda Cars (UK) Ltd
	McLaren Cars Ltd.
	Mercedes Benz Ltd.
	MG Rover
	Morgan Motor Co. Ltd.
	Motor Industry Research Association
	Motor Schools Association
	Motorcycle Action Group
	Motorcycle Advisory Group
	Motorcycle Industry Association
	National Assembly for Wales
	NG Cars Ltd.
	Nissan Motor GB Ltd.
	Parliamentary Council for Transport Safety
	Pedestrian Association
	Perodua
	Peugeot Motor Company Ltd.
	Porsche Cars (GB) Ltd.
	Professor Richard Allsop, University College London
	RAC Foundation of Motoring
	Reliant Motors Ltd.
	Renault UK Ltd.
	Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd.
	Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
	SAAB (GB) Ltd.
	Scottish Executive
	Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders
	States of Jersey
	Suzuki GB plc
	Toyota GB Ltd.
	Trades Union Congress
	TRL Ltd.
	TVR Engineering Ltd.
	Ultima Sports Cars Ltd.
	Vauxhall Motors Ltd.
	Vehicle Certification Agency
	Vehicle Inspectorate
	Volkswagen Group UK Ltd.
	Volvo Cars UK Ltd.
	Welsh Local Government Association.
	We are finalising a summary of responses received and will place it in the Libraries of the House when available.

Vehicle Safety

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the additional manufacturing costs for each vehicle if all new cars were to meet the four tests developed by the European Enhanced Safety of Vehicles Committee; and what scientific advice he has received on the proposal for a two-stage negotiated agreement on this subject.

David Jamieson: Previous estimates have indicated a manufacturing cost increase of between 110 and 330 per vehicle to meet the full EEVC tests. However, we believe that this cost would reduce appreciably as manufacturers gain experience of pedestrian design, and as improved technological solutions become available.
	Past research has indicated that the benefits obtained from the full EEVC proposals (as proposed for the second phase of a negotiated agreement) would be in the range of an 8 per cent. reduction in pedestrian fatalities and a 21 per cent. reduction in pedestrian serious injuries. Although the first phase of the negotiated agreement would lead to appreciable casualty reductions, the second phase offers greater protection against head injuries and reduced likelihood of leg injuries, a particular aspect being reduced knee injuries.

East-west Transport Links

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 15 October 2001, Official Report, column 892W, on east-west transport links, if the London to South Midlands multi-modal study is considering east-west rail links between Cambridge and Bedford, and Bedford and Milton Keynes.

David Jamieson: The London to South Midlands multi-modal study will concentrate on three north to south transport corridors (M1/WCML, A1/MML/ECML, M11/WAnglia) but will also look at east-west movements in the study area. The east-west rail link will be considered in this context.

Empty Homes (East Sussex)

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many empty homes there are in east Sussex broken down by sector.

Sally Keeble: The numbers of vacant local authority and Registered Social Landlords' dwellings in each local authority area in east Sussex on 1 April 2000 (the latest available data) are set out in the table alongside the local authorities' estimates of private and other public sector dwellings.
	
		Number of vacant residential dwellings in East Sussex on 1 April 2000, by local authority and tenure
		
			  (1)Local authority (2)RSL (1)Other public (1)Private Total 
		
		
			 Brighton and Hove 196 81 28 2,178 2,483 
			 Eastbourne 33 37 0 1,240 1,310 
			 Hastings 0 102 0 3,184 3,286 
			 Lewes 42 11 0 520 573 
			 Rother 0 130 1 2,106 2,237 
			 Wealden 50 25 6 937 1,018 
			  
			 East Sussex total 321 386 35 10,165 10,907 
		
	
	(1) Housing Investment Programme (HIP) 2000: Operation Information returns.
	(2) Annual Regulatory and Statistical Returns (RSR 1).
	Notes:
	1. RSLRegistered Social Landlord.
	2. Other publicincludes Government Departments and public sector agencies (eg health authorities).

Rail Maintenance

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many wheeltappers were employed by the railway industry in (a) 1990 and (b) 2000.

David Jamieson: We do not hold this information.

European Single Sky Agreement

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what criteria were assessed when deciding to sign the European Single Sky Agreement; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The European Commission presented its legislative proposals on the European Single Sky to the Transport Council on 16 October.
	The Government are considering their response to these proposals, but have not signed any agreement.

Social Tenants

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in what way (a) new and (b) existing social tenants will have greater choice over their housing in the choice-based lettings pilot scheme.

Sally Keeble: The 27 local authority-led pilots were chosen to test different choice-based approaches to lettings, operating in a variety of circumstances.
	Nearly all the schemes are designed to give greater choice to new and existing tenants by moving away from bureaucratic, points-based, allocation schemes to schemes where applicants select directly from available vacancies.
	There is a strong emphasis on partnership working between the pilot authorities and Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) operating in their area; and in some cases the intention is to bring private landlords on board as well, to offer as wide a choice as possible to new and existing tenants. Some of the pilots involve a consortium of authorities and RSLs working together. Some include links between areas of high and low demand. These schemes offer the opportunity to test the potential for promoting mobility across local authority boundaries, increasing choice for tenants and new applicants, and enabling better use to be made of the national housing stock.
	We expect all the pilot schemes to ensure that the needs of vulnerable households are considered and addressed during the development of the pilot, to ensure that they are not disadvantaged under the new scheme. This will include the provision of information and advice to help people make appropriate and informed choicesas well as practical support to help them make the move.

Housing Construction Programmes

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many new housing construction programmes since 1997 have built houses on (a) brownfield sites and (b) greenfield sites.

Sally Keeble: Information on the proportion of new homes built on previously developed land in England is available from the Department's land use change statistics. Between 1997 and 2000, 57 per cent. of new dwellings were built on previously developed land (including new dwellings provided from the conversion of existing buildings, which account for three percentage points).

Key Worker Housing Grant Scheme

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 October 2001, Official Report, column 136768W, what the successful bids from (a) local authorities and (b) other bodies under the key worker housing grant scheme involving (i) NHS staff and (ii) social services staff were; and what the amounts were.

Sally Keeble: The allocation of 230 million Starter Home Initiative funding to 95 schemes was announced on 6 September. This will help around 4,000 nurses and other essential health workers, 2,800 teachers, 900 police, and 300 other key workers including social workers.
	The successful bids and the total amount of funding allocated to each bid are shown in the table. The table also indicates which schemes include assistance to health staff and social services staff (see notes to the table).
	
		
			  Area covered by successful bid  Successful bidders Total amount of SHI funding allocated  million 
		
		
			 London   
			 All London boroughs(3),(4) Keys to the Capital Consortium: Tower Homes, Metropolitan Home Ownership, Notting Hill Home Ownership, Boleyn and Forest Housing 95.818 
			 All London boroughs Keys to the Capital Consortium: Tower Homes, Metropolitan Home Ownership, Notting Hill Home Ownership (NHHO), Boleyn and Forest Housing 15.312 
			 Camden NHHO 0.713 
			 Hackney(3) Unitary Ltd. 1.033 
			 Newham(3),(4) St. George plc (NHHO will manage the scheme) 1.400 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham(3) Bush Housing Association 0.983 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham(3),(4) St. George plc (NHHO will manage the scheme) 1.050 
			 Islington(3) NHHO 1.760 
			 North/West London(3) Peabody Trust 3.106 
			 Wandsworth Wandsworth council (NHHO will manage the scheme) 1.380 
			 Brent(3),(4) Northcote Housing Association 1.821 
			 Brent(3),(4) NHHO 0.322 
			 Brent(3) Sutherland HA 1.139 
			 Ealing(4) Northcote HA 1.658 
			 Harrow(3) Northcote HA 1.631 
			 Hillingdon NHHO 0.168 
			 Hillingdon(3) Airways Housing Group 0.180 
			 Hillingdon(3) Northcote HA 2.348 
			 Hounslow(3),(4) Northcote HA 1.120 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames(3) Bush HA 0.965 
			 Hounslow, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea(3) London Cyrenians Housing 0.246 
			 Ealing and Hillingdon Taywood Homes Ltd. (scheme will be managed by Genesis Housing Group) 0.958 
			 South London(3) Moat HA 8.051 
			 Sutton(3) Tower Homes 0.345 
			 Lambeth(3) Tower Homes 2.520 
			
			 South East   
			 Bracknell Forest(3),(4) NHHO 0.841 
			 Reading(3) Western Challenge 0.266 
			 Reading(3),(4) Northcote HA 5.052 
			 Slough(3),(4) Northcote HA 2.374 
			 West Berkshire(3) Airways Housing Group 0.563 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead(3),(4) Maidenhead and District HA 1.054 
			 Wokingham(3),(4) Thames Valley HA 2.288 
			 Aylesbury Vale NHHO 0.444 
			 Chiltern, South Buckinghamshire, Wycombe, Aylesbury(3) Chiltern Hundreds HA 6.988 
			 Milton Keynes(3) Midsummer HA 0.700 
			 Oxford(3),(4) Pan Oxford Healthcare Partnership (Northcote HA will manage the scheme) 1.865 
			 Oxford Northcote HA 0.966 
			 Oxfordshire(3),(4) Beacon HA 1.666 
			 South Oxfordshire(3) Soha Housing 1.499 
			 South Oxfordshire(3) Sovereign HA 0.545 
			 Vale of the White Horse(3) Sovereign HA 0.436 
			 West Oxfordshire(3) Sovereign HA 0.574 
			 Basingstoke(3) Oakfern Housing 0.693 
			 Basingstoke(3) Sovereign HA 0.754 
			 East Hampshire Hampshire Voluntary Housing Society 0.125 
			 Eastleigh(3) Swaythling HA 0.587 
			 Fareham(3) Merlion Housing Group 0.875 
			 Hampshire Hampshire county council (scheme will be managed by Swaythling HA) 1.103 
			 Havant Swaythling HA 0.381 
			 Rushmoor, Hart(3) Thames Valley HA 1.468 
			 Southampton(3),(4) Southampton city council (Swaythling HA will manage the scheme) 2.060 
			 Test Valley(3) Swaythling HA 0.663 
			 Winchester(3) Hampshire Voluntary Housing Society 0.131 
			 Winchester(3) Swaythling HA 0.589 
			 Ashford(3) Moat HA 0.908 
			 Canterbury(3) Moat HA 0.648 
			 Dartford(3) Moat HA 0.562 
			 Gravesham(3) Moat HA 0.367 
			 Maidstone(3) Hyde HA 0.333 
			 Maidstone(3) Town and Country Housing Group 0.100 
			 Maidstone(3) Moat HA 0.677 
			 Sevenoaks(3) Moat HA 1.040 
			 Tonbridge and Malling(3) Moat HA 0.876 
			 Tunbridge Wells(3) Town and Country Housing Group 0.100 
			 Tunbridge Wells(3) Moat HA 0.910 
			 Brighton and Hove(3) Moat HA 2.124 
			 Chichester(3),(4) Raglan HA 0.116 
			 Crawley(3) Moat HA 0.950 
			 East Sussex(3),(4) East Sussex local authorities in conjunction with Moat HA (Moat HA will run the scheme) 1.664 
			 Mid Sussex(3) Moat HA 0.750 
			 Horsham(3) Moat HA 0.781 
			 Epsom and Ewell(3) Mount Green HA 0.142 
			 Guildford(3),(4) Guildford borough council 0.408 
			 Surrey(3),(4) Thames Valley HA 13.472 
			 Mole Valley(3) Mount Green HA 0.238 
			 Runnymede(3) Servite Homes 0.255 
			 Spelthorne(3) Airways Housing Group 0.675 
			
			 East   
			 Bedford(3) Bedfordshire Pilgrims HA 0.587 
			 Cambridge, South Cambridgeshire(3),(4) Cambridgeshire Employers' Consortium in conjunction with Bedfordshire Pilgrims HA (the HA will manage the scheme) 4.826 
			 Hertfordshire(4) Aldwyck HA 2.531 
			 Hertfordshire Ridgehill HA 1.495 
			 Welwyn and Hatfield, Stevenage(3) East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust in conjunction with St. Pancras HA (the HA will manage the scheme) 1.390 
			 Watford(3) Beacon HA 1.479 
			 Basildon(3) Moat HA 0.405 
			 Braintree(3) Moat HA 0.427 
			 Chelmsford(3) Boleyn and Forest HA 0.469 
			 Chelmsford Taywood Homes (Taywood will work in partnership with Chelmsford borough council to manage the scheme) 0.402 
			 Harlow(3) Moat HA 0.752 
			 Maldon(3) Moat HA 0.548 
			
			 South West   
			 Bournemouth(3) Western Challenge HA 0.517 
			 Bristol/South Gloucestershire(3) Bristol city council and South Gloucestershire in conjunction with Knightstone and Sovereign HAs 1.721 
			 Cheltenham(3) Bromford Housing Group 0.401 
			 Christchurch(3) Sovereign HA 0.182 
			 Cotswold(3) Cotswold district council 0.506 
			 Swindon(3) Swindon borough council (Sarsen HA will manage the scheme) 1.150 
		
	
	(3) Schemes include assistance to health staff
	(4) Schemes include assistance to social services staff

Isle of Wight (Trunk Road Access)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will urge the highway authorities for Portsmouth and Southampton to consult with the Isle of Wight council on highway projects on trunk road access to the Isle of Wight.

David Jamieson: The Government's Guidance on Full Local Transport Plans, published in March 2000, advises all local highway authorities to have effective liaison arrangements with neighbouring authorities and to agree a common or complementary approach to cross-boundary issues. I am aware that there are regular consultation meetings on transport issues between the Isle of Wight council, Portsmouth city council, Southampton city council and Hampshire county council.

Light Rapid Transit Scheme (Fareham-Gosport-Portsmouth)

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress with the Light Rapid Transit scheme for Fareham-Gosport-Portsmouth, with particular reference to (a) costings and (b) the timetable to completion.

Sally Keeble: We understand that the promoting authorities, Hampshire County Council and Portsmouth City Council, hope to commence construction in 2003 with completion in 200607. The scheme is estimated to cost 190 million but the precise amount will not be known until tendering process has been completed.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Al Jazeera Television Channel

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chairman of the Information Select Committee if he will make arrangements for the al-Jazeera television channel to be available on television monitors in hon. Members' offices; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fabricant: holding answer 26 October 2001
	There are at present no spare channels on the Parliamentary Video Network as the 24th channel, earmarked for the Scottish Parliament when a transmission becomes available, is being used for technical purposes. It may be helpful to add that the al-Jazeera channel is an Arabic-speaking channel with no English spoken and no English subtitles.

Family Friendly Hours

Simon Burns: To ask the President of the Council what proposals he has for making the dates of parliamentary Sessions more family friendly.

Robin Cook: Like Leaders of the House before me, I recognise the practical arguments for more closely aligning adjournments with school holidays. There are obvious difficulties in that half-term holidays vary accordingly to region and the Scottish school summer holidays differ markedly from those in England and Wales. However, I hope we can make progress on this issue through the Modernisation Committee.
	I also hope that we will announce the dates of parliamentary recesses further in advance than has been usual in the past. The dates of the Christmas recess were announced during the first business statement in October. I hope to continue and extend this practice so as to allow MPs to plan their constituency work and family engagements more effectively.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Accounts

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the annual administration costs were in the last financial year of (a) each of the national museums and galleries sponsored by her Department, (b) the Arts Council of England, (c) Sport England, (d) UK Sport, (e) the regional arts boards, (f) English Heritage, (g) the Heritage Lottery Fund, (h) the New Opportunities Fund, (i) the Football Foundation, (j) the Communities Fund, (k) the English Tourism Council, (l) the British Tourist Authority, (m) regional tourist boards and (n) the Film Council; and what proportion of employees of these organisations are (1) from ethnic minorities and (2) registered disabled.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 15 October 2001
	Comprehensive figures for the last financial year are not yet available, so the figures given, taken from published accounts and the Departmental Annual Report, are for the 19992000 financial year. The calculation of the figures depends on how each body presents its published financial information, and therefore the figures are not directly comparable. Where possible administration costs figures are given, but in some cases (asterisked) the published information only covers total operating expenditure. As Museums and Galleries are direct service providers, the operating expenditure covers their entire income.
	The Football Foundation is not sponsored by DCMS, so the Department does not hold information on its expenditure. Nor does it hold the information requested on the employees of all of the organisations listed in the question.
	
		 million 
		
			  Administration costs 
		
		
			 (a) Museums and Galleries  
			 British Museum *45.8 
			 Imperial War Museum *19.9 
			 National Gallery *20.1 
			 National Maritime Museum *13.7 
			 National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside *14.4 
			 National Museum of Science and Industry *30.8 
			 National Portrait Gallery *6.8 
			 Natural History Museum *34.6 
			 Royal Armouries *7.2 
			 Tate Gallery *23.1 
			 Victoria and Albert Museum *34.1 
			 Wallace Collection *3.0 
			   
			 (b) Arts Council of England (includes lottery and grant in aid functions) 30.6 
			   
			 (c) Sport England (includes lottery and grant in aid functions) 28.2 
			   
			 (d) UK Sport (includes lottery and grant in aid functions) 3.05 
			   
			 (e) Regional Arts Board  
			 Eastern *1.6 
			 East Midlands *1.7 
			 London *2.3 
			 Northern *1.3 
			 North West *1.7 
			 Southern *1.4 
			 South East *1.5 
			 South West *1.8 
			 West Midlands *1.5 
			 Yorkshire *1.5 
			   
			 (f) English Heritage *65.3 
			   
			 (g) Heritage Lottery Fund 14.2 
			 (h) New Opportunities Fund 13.8 
			   
			 (j) Community Fund 27.8 
			   
			 (k) English Tourism Council 3.5 
			   
			 (l) British Tourist Authority 6.8 
			   
			 (m) Regional Tourist Boards  
			 Cumbria *1.4 
			 East of England *2.0 
			 Heart of England *2.6 
			 London *5.3 
			 Northumbria *1.5 
			 North West *2.7 
			 South East *1.6 
			 Southern *4.1 
			 South West *2.6 
			 Yorkshire *4.1 
			   
			 (n) Film Council *7.4

Al-Qaeda Broadcasts

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the policy relating to broadcasts in the UK of statements by al-Qaeda through the al-Jazeera network.

Tessa Jowell: Al-Jazeera is a Qatar-based broadcaster licensed by the French authorities for transmission within the European Union. I understand that it is the only TV broadcaster allowed by the Taliban to operate on a permanent basis out of Afghanistan. We have urged broadcasters to be cautious in their use of material from Afghanistan and to ensure that viewers are aware of the source of material and how reliable it might be.
	Under the Television Without Frontiers Directive, 89/552/EEC, as amended by 97/36/EC,
	Member states shall ensure that broadcasts do not contain any incitement to hatred on grounds of race, sex, religion or nationality. It is open to the UK Government, on the advice of the ITC, to proscribe a television broadcaster which broadcasts from another member state, where the broadcasts contain material which manifestly, seriously and gravely infringes this prohibition, on at least two occasions in a twelve month period. The ITC's monitoring of al-Jazeera has not led it to conclude that proscription would be justified. UK established broadcasters must comply with obligations to maintain due impartiality and accuracy in their reporting of news and current affairs.
	Broadcasters must apply their own judgment to the context of the al-Qaeda videos.

Galleries and Museums

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much new Government investment funding was given to galleries and museums in each of the last three years.

Kim Howells: In 199899 the Government provided 203 million in grant-in-aid for DCMS's sponsored museums and galleries in England. In 19992000 we increased this to 219 million. In 200001 the figure rose to 229 million, and in 200102 the figure will rise to 246 million.
	These figures do not include Resource, the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries, and the Designated Museums Challenge Fund awards, both of which are funded by DCMS. Figures for these are as follows.
	
		 million 
		
			  Resource(5) DMCF 
		
		
			 199899 9.8  
			 19992000 13.0 2.5 
			 200001 13.5 4.5 
			 200102 12.5 8.0 
		
	
	(5) Also for archives and libraries.

Film Industry

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what public funds were provided for the production and distribution of the film Enigma.

Kim Howells: No public funds were provided for the production or distribution of the film Enigma.

Film Industry

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funds she provides for the distribution of UK-produced films in the UK.

Kim Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 18 October 2001, Official Report, column 1287W.

Terrorism

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much she forecasts will be spent in the current year by her Department as a direct result of measures associated with the war on terrorism.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 26 October 2001
	The Department does not expect to have any additional costs as a direct result of measures associated with the war on terrorism. However, I have been co-ordinating work to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place in the UK to support the families of victims of the events of 11 September.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Racial Hatred

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Solicitor-General how many successful prosecutions for incitement of racial hatred there have been.

Harriet Harman: Records for prosecutions for incitement of racial hatred under part III of the Public Order Act 1986 have been kept only since 1988. Since then 42 defendants have been successfully prosecuted under the provisions of the Act. The number of applications for consent to prosecute for each year since 1988, the number of prosecutions arising and the convictions obtained are as summarised.
	
		
			  Number of applications for Attorney General consent(6) Withdrawn Not granted Prosecuted Convicted(7) 
		
		
			 1988 3  1 2 2 
			 1989 1   1 1 
			 1990 2   2 2 
			 1991 4  1 3 1 
			 1992 5  2 3 2 
			 1993 2   2 2 
			 1994 2   2 2 
			 1995 8 1  7 6 
			 1996 13  1 12 9 
			 1997 12  2 10 9 
			 1998 2 1  1 1 
			 1999 4   4 3 
			 2000 5   5 (8)2 
			 2001(9) 7   7 (10) 
		
	
	(6) Per defendant
	(7) Not necessarily in the same year
	(8) Two results outstanding
	(9) To date
	(10) Results awaited

WALES

Economy

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to offset the effect in Wales of the worldwide economic slowdown.

Paul Murphy: The Government's economic policy of low inflation, sound public finances and steady growth means that Wales should be well placed to withstand worldwide fluctuations in economic cycles.
	The block grant for Wales that I negotiated with the Treasury last year allows the National Assembly to match fund objective 1 programmes and, more recently, I have worked closely with colleagues in the Department of Trade and Industry and in the National Assembly to help fund and support areas affected by steel closures.
	I will continue to work closely with my colleagues in Government and in the National Assembly to ensure that Wales has the opportunity to build on the stable foundations laid by the Government's economic policy.

Secondments

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many secondments there were from his Department to a business in the private sector; how many secondments there have been from the private sector to his Department in each of the last five years; and if he will provide a list of the companies involved and the location of the companies.

Paul Murphy: Since 1 July 1999, my Department's staff have been seconded from the National Assembly for Wales and have access to the full range of development opportunities offered to Assembly employees, including secondment to businesses in the private sector. Given this arrangement, it is not practicable to attribute individual outward secondments to the Wales Office. There have been no inward secondments from the private sector to the Wales Office.
	Central records of secondments to and from the former Welsh Office are available only from January 1998. Between that date and 30 June 1999, there was one outward secondment to the New Millennium Company, which commenced in September 1998 and one inward secondment from King Sturge, which commenced in December 1998. Specific locations have not been recorded.

Departmental Account Payments

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the measures his Department is taking to improve its record in the prompt payment of accounts, with special reference to small contractors and suppliers.

Paul Murphy: I have already taken measures which have resulted in 97 per cent. to 98 per cent. of our bills being paid on time over the last few months.
	My Department's bills are paid by the National Assembly for Wales under a service level agreement; I will ensure that the present standard is maintained.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Bangladesh

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her policy is towards (a) the operation of non-governmental organisations in Bangladesh, (b) NGOs promoting western concepts of the role of women in Bangladesh and (c) the substitution of western for local cultural norms by NGOs in Bangladesh.

Clare Short: The UK Government do not have a general policy towards NGOs in Bangladesh. My Department works with a number of NGOs to help advance a range of our objectives, as set out in our published Country Strategy Paper for Bangladesh.
	One of these objectives is improvements in the position of women in society. DFID's overall strategy is set out in a published paper on 'Poverty Elimination and the Empowerment of Women'. In accordance with that strategy we work with NGOs and the Government of Bangladesh to help implement Bangladesh's international commitments.
	The UK Government do not promote any particular policy on cultural norms in Bangladesh. The majority of our funding to NGOs in Bangladesh goes to indigenous Bangladeshi organisations. Most of these have a commitment to internationally recognised human rights including women's equality.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Summer Recess (Departmental Publications)

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) press notices and (b) consultation documents were issued by his Department during the summer recess.

Jack Straw: holding answer 23 October 2001
	(a) The news department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued 78 press releases during the parliamentary recess. This figures includes the daily bulletin of ministerial engagements.
	(b) No consultation documents were issued during the period 20 July to 15 October.

British Council

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on changes to the budget for the British Council between 1997 and 2001.

Denis MacShane: In 199798 the British Council received grant-in-aid from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of 96 million and 30 million from DFID. Subsequently the DFID grant-in-aid was transferred to the FCO, which provided some 127 million in 199899, 133 million in 19992000 and 137 million in 200001. Under the current Spending Review settlement the British Council is receiving 143 million in 200102, 151 million in 200203 and 159 million in 200304.

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which laws prohibit the use, production, possession and transfer of nuclear, chemical, biological and radiological materials which could be used as weapons of mass destruction; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The specific legislation which applies to weapons of mass destruction, in addition to the general criminal law of the United Kingdom, is as follows:
	The Chemical Weapons Act 1996 prohibits the use, development, production, possession and transfer of chemical weapons, and preparations of a military nature to use such weapons. Chemical weapons are defined as including toxic chemicals and their precursors, except where used for permitted purposes. Permitted purposes are peaceful purposes, purposes related to protection against toxic chemicals, legitimate military purposes, and purposes of enforcing the law;
	The Biological Weapons Act 1974 prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, acquisition or retention of any biological agent or toxin of a type and in a quantity that has no justification for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes. Biological agent means any microbial or other biological agent; and toxin means any toxin, whatever its origin or method of production;
	The Radioactive Substances Act 1993 prohibits the possession of radioactive material (including nuclear material) less exempt quantities outside a licensed nuclear site without an authorisation;
	The Nuclear Installations Act 1965 prohibits the separation of plutonium or the enrichment of uranium without a permit and certain large scale nuclear activities without a nuclear site licence;
	The Nuclear Material (Offences) Act 1983 relates to certain offences involving nuclear material;
	The Nuclear Explosions (Prohibitions and Inspection) Act 1998 will make it an offence knowingly to cause a nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion, except in the course of an armed conflict. This Act is not yet in force, since it is intended to give effect to certain provisions of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty which is yet to enter into force;
	The Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 allows regulations to be made relating to the safety/security of radioactive material. Radioactive material other than nuclear material cannot be used to construct a weapon of mass destruction;
	Other health and safety regulations are also relevant in requiring certain procedures and safeguards over the use, storage and transport of hazardous materials which will contribute to containing the risk of their misuse as weapons of mass destruction;
	Export of nuclear, chemical and biological and radioactive goods is controlled by the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, as amended, Council Regulation (EC) No. 1334/2000, as amended and the Dual-Use Items (Export Control) Regulations 2000, as amended.
	Additionally, under the Terrorism Act 2000, a person commits an offence if he provides instruction or training in the making or use of firearms, explosives or chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, receives instruction or training in the making or use of the same items.
	Provisions relating to these matters will be included in the Emergency Anti-Terrorism Bill.

Liberalisation of Trade in Services Committee

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Liberalisation of Trade in Services Committee in the last 12 months.

Peter Hain: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 26 October 2001, Official Report, column 417W.

Everything but Arms

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the EU's Everything but Arms policy on those countries not classified as least developed.

Peter Hain: holding answer 26 October 2001
	The EC regulation which extends duty free access to products originating in the Least Developed Countries (the so-called Everything but Arms proposal) was adopted at the General Affairs Council in February 2001. The regulation came into force on 5 March 2001, and provides duty free access to EU markets for the world's 48 poorest countries for all goods except arms. Access for bananas, sugar and rice will be phased in, with full liberalisation for bananas from 2006, sugar from 1 July 2009 and rice from 1 September 2009.
	The Government believe the regulation represents the best available deal for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and non-LDCs, given the complex balance of interests involved. The impact of the measure is difficult to assess, particularly at this early stage. Much will depend on the response of producers, both in LDC and non-LDC countries, and on wider developments in trade and agriculture policy. The Government are committed to working with multilateral and other bilateral donors to ensure that non-LDCs receive help and advice during the necessary process of adjustment. We will monitor clearly the impact of the changes, on LDC and non-LDC countries' economies.

Joint Entry Clearance Unit

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek a report from the British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia on the response of the Embassy in Riyadh to information sought by the Joint Entry Clearance Unit about the family reunion case GV 100/67853/TD raised with JECU by the hon. Member for Manchester, Central.

Ben Bradshaw: I will raise this case with our Ambassador in Saudi Arabia and will write to my hon. Friend with my findings as soon as possible.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Extradition

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the pause on extradition proceedings mentioned in his statement of 24 October 2001, Official Report, columns 30204, was at the recommendation of (a) the Chief Constable and (b) General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: The approach set out in the statement had been discussed with my security advisers.

Population Statistics

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those enumeration districts which are in the top 5 per cent. measured by (a) reduction in population in the last 10, 20 and 30 years and (b) change of population in the last 10, 20 and 30 years for which information is available.

John Reid: Responsibility for this subject has been devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly and is therefore no longer a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Prisoner Releases

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those persons released from prison as a result of the Belfast Agreement, indicating for each (i) the date of release, (ii) the term for which sentenced, (iii) the period served as a percentage of (ii), (iv) the crime for which sentenced, (v) the paramilitary group with which they were associated and (vi) when recalled to prison.

Jane Kennedy: It is not our policy to release information in relation to individual cases. However certain statistics are held on releases under the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998.
	Of 444 individuals released to date under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998, 230 were released in 1998, 80 were released in 1999, 123 were released in 2000 and 11 have been released so far in 2001.
	In total, 153 were life sentence prisoners and 291 were determinate sentence prisoners.
	Under the terms of the Act, a life sentence prisoner was liable to serve about two thirds of the period he would have been likely to spend in prison and a fixed term prisoner was liable to serve a third of his sentence.
	In relation to the terms and crimes for which they were sentenced, applicants for early release have to fulfil certain criteria to qualify for consideration under the Sentences Act. They have to be serving a term of imprisonment of life or at lease five years for a scheduled offence within the meaning of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Acts (or a similar offence if committed outside Northern Ireland) and their offence(s) have to have been committed before 10 April 1998.
	Information is held, for management purposes, in relation to the perceived paramilitary association of prisoners in Northern Ireland. The table sets out details of the perceived association of the 444 individuals released.
	To date five early release licensees (two in 2000 and three in 2001) have had their licences suspended and been returned to prison.
	
		
			 Perceived association Total 
		
		
			 PIRA 205 
			 INLA 24 
			 Former INLA 7 
			 Republican Association 3 
			 UDA 87 
			 UFF 14 
			 UVF 67 
			 RHC 3 
			 LVF 16 
			 Loyalist Association 6 
			 Criminal or No Association 12 
			  
			 Grand total 444

Electoral Fraud

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with Sinn Fein on the Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Bill.

Des Browne: My predecessor, the hon. Member for Knowsley, North and Sefton, East (Mr. Howarth), met with representatives of 10 Northern Ireland political parties (including Sinn Fein) between 20 and 23 November 2000. The purpose of these meetings was to discuss the Government's proposal for a Bill to counter electoral fraud in Northern Ireland.
	The White Paper, Combating Electoral Fraud in Northern Ireland (Cm. 5080) was published in March 2001. It set out the Government's policy on electoral fraud in Northern Ireland and the legislative changes we intended to make to combat that fraud. A copy was sent to all the Northern Ireland political parties.

Electoral Fraud

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the results are of his quantitative survey of the scale of electoral fraud in Northern Ireland; and if he will place his report in the Library.

Des Browne: A report, presenting the quantitative findings from a research project undertaken by Research and Evaluation Services for the Northern Ireland Office and the Electoral Office, was placed in the Library of the House on Tuesday 16 October.
	The purpose of the research was to inform the development of electoral policy in Northern Ireland. The results of the research will contribute to a wider discussion on the issue of electoral malpractice and provide feedback on the operation of the combined poll held on 7 June 2001.
	The research was comprised of surveys of the general public, presiding officers and count staff. A series of in-depth interviews and focus groups with presiding officers was also carried out. The report placed in the Library of the House on 16 October presents the quantitative survey elements of the projectthese findings relate to people's general views and perceptions of the elections held on 7 June. The qualitative feedback from presiding officers will be included in a later report to be published as part of the Northern Ireland Office's Research and Statistical Series.

Bill of Rights

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what additional resources have been allocated to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to support the consultation process they are undertaking on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland;
	(2)  how many bids have been received from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for resources to support the consultation process on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland; and if these have been granted;
	(3)  how his Department intends to support the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in providing financial resources for it to run a consultation process on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.

Des Browne: It was initially envisaged that the task of advising on the scope for a Bill of Rights was an integral part of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's functions, and would therefore be covered by the Commission's core budget. However, we made it clear from the outset that we would be prepared to consider bids for increased funding, provided they were accompanied by a properly costed business case.
	The Commission submitted an initial request for additional funds specifically for the consultation on the scope for a Bill of Rights in December 2000. Following discussion a revised bid was submitted in June 2001. In response to this, the Commission was granted a further 357,200 to fund the consultation process to inform their draft advice to Government on the scope for a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.

Bill of Rights

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how his Department intends to respond to the consultation process on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland as it relates to proposed criminal justice and security rights.

Des Browne: The consultation document published by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on 4 September this year represents its draft advice to Government. The Commission expects to issue its final recommendations to the Government in early 2002, and we look forward to receiving that.
	In the meantime, we will study carefully the contents of the draft as it currently stands.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Europol

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if foreign employees of Europol are immune from prosecution while on duty in the UK.

Bob Ainsworth: Europol employees, whether or not foreign nationals, would be immune from prosecution for acts undertaken in the exercise of their official functions. These privileges and immunities, which are comparable with those routinely afforded to the staff of international organisations, are granted only in so far as they are necessary for the proper functioning of Europol. Europol is obliged to observe national laws and to waive immunities where possible in cases where the immunity would impede the course of justice.

Visas

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visas for temporary stays in the United Kingdom (a) were issued and (b) have expired in each year since 1997; and of the latter (i) how many holders are known to have left the country and (ii) how many holders are known not to have left the country (A) because of applications for asylum, (B) for other lawful reasons and (C) for other unlawful reasons.

Angela Eagle: Information on the number of temporary visas issued is given in the table. This is the latest available published information. Data for 2000 are due to be published this year in the Command Paper Control of Immigration Statistics United Kingdom 2000, a copy of which will be placed in the House of Commons Library.
	It is not possible to determine how many persons have left the country as the United Kingdom no longer has embarkation controls.
	Information on the number of visas which have expired is not currently available.
	
		Entry clearance applications granted for temporary purposes -- 199799
		
			 Year Entry clearance issued 
		
		
			 1997 1,243,450 
			 1998 1,256,040 
			 1999 1,309,210 
		
	
	Note:
	Data rounded to the nearest 10

Cannabis

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how soon he would be able to bring forward legislation to legalise cannabis following a recommendation to that effect arising from current trials;
	(2)  when he expects to receive the findings of phase 3 of the clinical trials of the therapeutic properties of cannabis.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 26 October 2001
	Detailed evidence about clinical trials with cannabis and derivatives was presented to the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology Inquiry into therapeutic uses of cannabis. This information is recorded in the Committee's reports Cannabis: The Scientific and Medical Evidence (Ninth Report Session 19971998, HL Paper 151) and Therapeutic Uses of Cannabis (Second Report Session 20002001 HL Paper 50), copies of which are available in the Library. The timings relating to on-going trials are clearly a matter for the sponsors, but I understand that GW Pharmaceuticals hope to have completed phase 3 trials, which are a prelude to a licensing application, by next summer.
	The Government welcome these trials and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has made it clear that if a product licence is recommended by the Medicines Control Agency he would approve the necessary changes to the Misuse of Drugs legislation. These changes can be made swiftly, by way of secondary legislation subject to negative resolution, although it is not possible at this time to give precise timings.

Cannabis

Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if the Metropolitan Police intend to extend its policy on not arresting cannabis users in Lambeth to other parts of London;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the effect of police policy in Lambeth on cannabis possession on the Government's targets on drug reduction;
	(3)  what indications he has received from chief constables outside London that they plan to introduce policies on cannabis possession similar to that in force in Lambeth;
	(4)  what indications he has given to chief constables outside London on introducing policies on cannabis possession similar to that in force in Lambeth.

Bob Ainsworth: Lambeth borough is currently conducting a pilot warning scheme for simple cases of possession of cannabis for personal use, running from 2 July to 31 December 2001.
	My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has announced his intention to reclassify cannabis, from Class B to Class C under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, and has asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs for medical and scientific advice. He will consider this advice in conjunction with the findings of the evaluation of the Lambeth pilot. The Home Secretary intends to take a final decision in the spring of next year.

Asylum Seekers

Patrick Cormack: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers whose applications were refused during (a) 1999 and (b) 2000 have now left the country; and what proportion this represents of the total in each case.

Angela Eagle: It is not possible to say how many persons whose asylum applications were refused in 1999 and 2000 have subsequently left the country. Applicants may leave voluntarily without informing the Home Office, or may be in the process of preparing an appeal or awaiting the outcome of an appeal.
	The total number of asylum seekers who were removed (excluding dependants) from the United Kingdom in 1999 and 2000 is given in the table. Some of these removals will relate to decisions to refuse asylum in earlier years.
	
		
			 Year Total asylum removals(11),(12) 
		
		
			 1999 7,665 
			 2000 (13)8,980 
		
	
	(11) Includes persons departing 'voluntarily' after enforcement action was initiated against them.
	(12) Persons who sought asylum at some point, excluding dependants. Includes persons leaving under the Voluntary Assisted Returns Programme.
	(13) Provisional.
	Note:
	Figures rounded to the nearest five.

Asylum Seekers

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce a system enabling the Government to monitor the whereabouts of asylum seekers who are not detained; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: There are a number of existing mechanisms by which the Government monitor the whereabouts of asylum seekers who are not detained. A number of options for improving these procedures are under consideration.
	My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will make a statement shortly setting out our proposals.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Civil Nuclear Installations (Security Threat)

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the security threat posed by civil nuclear installations and processes as objects of terrorist attacks.

Brian Wilson: It is not our policy to disclose details of security measures taken at civil nuclear sites. All aspects of required security arrangements for civil nuclear sites are kept under continuing review by the Director of Civil Nuclear Security, who regulates security in the civil nuclear industry.

Small Businesses (Data Protection)

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she is taking to make small businesses aware of their obligation to register the use of CCTV equipment under the Data Protection Acts.

Nigel Griffiths: The Small Business Service have agreed with the Office of the Information Commissioners that they will jointly produce guidance on the Data Protection Acts, including the use of CCTV, which meets the needs of small business.

Small Business Service Awards

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is a SMART award in relation to the Small Business Service; and how the 581 companies granted the award qualified for it.

Nigel Griffiths: Small Business Service SMART awards are grants to individuals or small and medium sized businesses to help with the costs of either engaging a technology consultant or researching and developing a technologically innovative new product or process.
	The successful applicants qualified for their awards by putting forward project proposals which met the selection criteria published in the Guidance Notes for Applicants. The criteria depend on the particular type of award sought and include the size of the business, the technical and commercial viability of the project proposal and the applicant, the need for the award, the level of innovation and technical risk involved in the project and the prospects for exploitation of the project outcome. Full details of SMART applications are available in the Library of the House.

Post Offices (Scotland)

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices (a) opened and (b) closed in Scotland in each of the last three years.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 23 October 2001
	I am informed by the Post Office Ltd. that historical data on the numbers of post office openings and closures are not maintained separately. The numbers of post offices operating in Scotland over the last three financial years were as follows:
	End March 19982,051
	End March 19992,026
	End March 20001,999
	End March 20011,936.
	I am informed by the Post Office that an on-going revision of data has affected individual country totals. I also understand that, across the UK as a whole, of the closures in the year ending March 2001, the Post Office designate only four as permanent.
	A 2 million fund to support relocation and refurbishment initiatives by volunteer or community groups to maintain or reopen post office facilities in rural areas where the traditional post office is closing received parliamentary approval in July.

Legal Action (Associated Newspapers)

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the cost met from public funds of the legal action taken by the previous Secretary of State, the right hon. Member for Tyneside, North (Mr. Byers) against Associated Newspapers.

Patricia Hewitt: No final bill for legal costs has yet been presented by the solicitors acting for my right hon. Friend the Member for Tyneside, North (Mr. Byers).

Public Telephones (Deaf People)

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the difficulties faced by the deaf population with regard to the use of public telephone kiosks, with special reference to the 999 emergency telephone service; and what plans she has to look at improvements which could be made.

Douglas Alexander: The regulation of telecoms operators is the responsibility of Oftel. Oftel is working with those operators that provide public call box services, such as British Telecom, and with disabled groups to ensure that more public text phones are made available to enable deaf people to have improved access to telecoms services, including 999 services. Oftel has also implemented regulations which require other operators of public call boxes to offer a text relay service. All textphones at public call boxes provide access to the emergency services through the dialling of a dedicated access code. The text is then relayed on to the emergency services. BT has installed 1,950 public textphones at airports, railway stations and motorway service centres too. These offer BT's newly launched text relay services called 'TextDirect'. A hearing customer will now be able to directly dial a customer who is deaf by using an access code and vice versa.

Transport and Telecoms Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the outcome was of the Transport and Telecommunications Council held in Brussels on 15 October; what the Government's stance was on each issue discussed, including their voting record; and if she will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: I represented the UK for the posts and telecoms aspects of the Transport and Telecoms Council in Luxembourg on 15 October.
	The Council, with the support of almost all member states, reached political agreement on a common position on postal services liberalisation which would safeguard the continued provision of universal service and provide for UK licensing arrangements. The UK supported the political agreement having secured adjustments to meet these points. Under the agreement, the level of services that may be reserved will reduce to 100 grams in 2003, to 50 grams in 2006 but leave the final step in 2009 to a Council/European Parliament decision in 2006 following a Commission assessment of universal service.
	The Presidency gave information on the proposed Communications Data Protection Directive. At the UK's initiative in the light of the measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 15 October 2001, Official Report, column 923, member states discussed the implications of the directive for the retention of data for law-enforcement purposes following the recent terrorist attacks in the United States. It was agreed that there should be further consideration to ensure that the directive will not restrict member states from taking action against terrorism.
	The Presidency also gave information on the proposed Framework, Access, Authorisation and Universal Service Directives arising from the 1999 Communications Review. These proposals are now undergoing second readings in the European Parliament following the Council's adoption of common positions in September.
	The Council held a debate on Network and Information Security, on which the Presidency intends to present a Resolution at the Transport and Telecoms Council in December.
	The Commission also presented a Communication on website accessibility for disabled users, part of the eEurope Action Plan, and a Communication on the Interchange of Data between Administrations (IDA) programme, aimed at improving working practices within the EU.

First Class Mail

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of first class mail was delivered the next day by postcode for the most recent quarter for which figures are available.

Douglas Alexander: Operational issues are a matter for Consignia.
	However, I have been advised by the company that postcode area performance for the first quarter of the current financial year 200102 is as follows:
	
		Postcode area performance (April to June 2001)first class stamped and metered
		
			 Postcode area All posted 
		
		
			 AB Aberdeen 91.3 
			 AL St. Albans 81.1 
			 B Birmingham 86.9 
			 BA Bath 89.1 
			 BB Blackburn and Burnley 83.2 
			 BD Bradford 95.4 
			 BH Bournemouth 88.3 
			 BL Bolton 87.8 
			 BN Brighton 91.8 
			 BR Bromley 87.8 
			 BS Bristol 86.4 
			 BT Northern Ireland 86.9 
			 CA Carlisle 87.9 
			 CB Cambridge 88.7 
			 CF Cardiff 87.6 
			 CH Chester and Deeside 80.9 
			 CM Chelmsford 85.3 
			 CO Colchester 88.7 
			 CR Croydon 89.0 
			 CT Canterbury 90.5 
			 CV Coventry and Warwickshire 91.7 
			 CW Crewe 89.6 
			 DA Dartford 88.1 
			 DD Dundee 88.9 
			 DE Derby 91.2 
			 DG Dumfries 91.3 
			 DH Durham 91.1 
			 DL Darlington 91.2 
			 DN Doncaster 93.1 
			 DT Dorchester 88.7 
			 DY Dudley 84.7 
			 E London East 73.4 
			 EC City of London 83.2 
			 EH Edinburgh 88.2 
			 EN Enfield 74.9 
			 EX Exeter 87.9 
			 FK Falkirk 87.2 
			 FY Fylde 86.7 
			 G Glasgow 85.4 
			 GL Gloucester 86.6 
			 GU Guildford 85.2 
			 HA Harrow 78.5 
			 HD Huddersfield 92.1 
			 HG Harrogate 86.7 
			 HP Hemel Hempstead 85.1 
			 HR Hereford 87.0 
			 HS Hebrides 79.6 
			 HU Hull 89.0 
			 HX Halifax 92.6 
			 IG Ilford 86.1 
			 IP Ipswich 81.2 
			 IV Inverness 89.4 
			 KA Kilmarnock 88.0 
			 KT Kingston upon Thames 90.2 
			 KW Kirkwall 84.2 
			 KY Kirkcaldy 91.9 
			 L Liverpool 82.4 
			 LA Lancaster 86.0 
			 LD Llandrindod Wells 88.5 
			 LE Leicester 92.2 
			 LL North Wales 80.8 
			 LN Lincoln 91.5 
			 LS Leeds 89.4 
			 LU Luton 80.8 
			 M Manchester 82.5 
			 ME Maidstone 88.5 
			 MK Milton Keynes 85.1 
			 ML Motherwell 84.2 
			 N London north 81.3 
			 NE Newcastle 88.5 
			 NG Nottingham 89.3 
			 NN Northamptonshire 86.6 
			 NP Newport 84.7 
			 NR Norwich 88.2 
			 NW London north west 79.5 
			 OL Oldham 86.1 
			 PA Paisley 86.0 
			 PE Peterborough 83.7 
			 PH Perth 89.7 
			 PL Plymouth 87.7 
			 PO Portsmouth 89.9 
			 PR Preston 86.5 
			 RG Reading 85.2 
			 RH Redhill 89.6 
			 RM Romford 87.7 
			 S Sheffield 93.2 
			 SA Swansea 90.7 
			 SE London south east 81.7 
			 SG Stevenage 89.6 
			 SK Stockport 86.0 
			 SL Slough 83.2 
			 SM Sutton 92.4 
			 SN Swindon 83.2 
			 SO Southampton 87.9 
			 SP Salisbury 83.4 
			 SR Sunderland 93.2 
			 SS Southend-on-Sea 82.1 
			 ST Stoke-on-Trent 86.1 
			 SW London south west 77.4 
			 SY Shrewsbury and mid Wales 84.7 
			 TA Taunton 86.6 
			 TD Borders 90.2 
			 TF Telford 86.9 
			 TN Tonbridge 86.0 
			 TQ Torquay 86.5 
			 TR Truro 90.7 
			 TS Teeside 92.2 
			 TW Twickenham 91.4 
			 UB Uxbridge 80.1 
			 W London west 79.2 
			 WA Warrington 87.8 
			 WC London west central 79.8 
			 WD Watford 78.2 
			 WF Wakefield 86.6 
			 WN Wigan 91.3 
			 WR Worcester 90.3 
			 WS Walsall 88.1 
			 WV Wolverhampton 88.1 
			 YO York 89.6 
			 ZE Lerwick 85.6

Icelandic Trawlermen (Compensation)

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims for compensation for Icelandic trawlermen have been rejected; and how many remain to be decided.

Nigel Griffiths: At mid-October, 4,199 claims had been rejected and 1,781 were either on hold pending a decision about the 1979 cut-off date or awaiting further information, mainly from claimants themselves.

Icelandic Trawlermen (Compensation)

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the (a) number and (b) total amount of compensation claims paid to Icelandic trawlermen, broken down by port.

Nigel Griffiths: The information is given in the table.
	
		Compensation scheme for former Icelandic water trawlermenpayments as at 16 October 2001
		
			  Number of payments Total amount paid () 
		
		
			 Hull 948 11,046,030 
			 Grimsby 334 2,585,995 
			 Fleetwood 201 2,059,144 
			 Blackpool 30 240,361 
			 Cleethorpes 82 668,046 
			 Newcastle 182 2,137,199 
			 West Yorkshire 114 1,197,687 
			 Aberdeen 38 245,313 
			 Others 210 1,862,056

Icelandic Trawlermen (Compensation)

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims for Icelandic trawlermen's compensation are not yet dealt with; and what legal advice she has received on the validity of this delay.

Nigel Griffiths: All claims received have been scrutinised and entered into the special computer system established for the scheme. I am satisfied that there has been no undue delay.

Post Offices (Wales)

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices (a) opened and (b) closed in Wales in each of the last three years.

Douglas Alexander: I am informed by the Post Office Ltd. that historical data on the numbers of post office openings and closures are not maintained separately. The numbers of post offices operating in Wales over the last three financial years were as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
		
		
			 End March 1998 1,513 
			 End March 1999 1,501 
			 End March 2000 1,470 
			 End March 2001 1,402 
		
	
	I am informed by the Post Office that an on-going revision of data has affected individual country totals. I also understand that, across the UK as a whole, of the closures in the year ending March 2001, the Post Office designate only four as permanent.
	A 2 million fund to support relocation and refurbishment initiatives by volunteer or community groups to maintain or reopen post office facilities in rural areas where the traditional post office is closing received parliamentary approval in July.

Wind Turbines

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to receive the findings of the study which her Department is undertaking on interference to radar and navigational aid from wind turbines.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 25 October 2001
	The consultants are expected to report towards the end of next year.

Post Office

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the number of Employment Tribunal applicants employed by Royal Mail/Consignia in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Operational issues of this kind are a matter for Consignia.
	I am advised by the company that the number of employment tribunals for each of the last three years is as follows:
	
		
			 Year  Number 
		
		
			 199899 465 
			 19992000 555 
			 200001 783

Post Office

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many working days were lost through industrial action in the Post Office in each of the last 10 years.

Douglas Alexander: Operational issues including industrial relations are a matter for Consignia.
	I am advised by the company that the number of working days lost through industrial action in each of the last 10 years is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of days lost 
		
		
			 199091 18,583 
			 199192 771 
			 199293 4,056 
			 199394 17,065 
			 199495 37,843 
			 199596 63,555 
			 199697 810,938 
			 199798 44,664 
			 199899 15,800 
			 19992000 22,199 
			 200001 62,908

Post Office

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total number of employees in the Post Office was in each the last five years.

Douglas Alexander: Operational issues are a matter for Consignia.
	I am advised by the company that the number of full-time equivalent employees in each of the last five years is as follows.
	
		
			   Number 
		
		
			 1997 193,633 
			 1998 197,712 
			 1999 197,531 
			 2000 207,301 
			 2001 217,964

Euro (Business Invoices)

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many British businesses invoice in euros.

Nigel Griffiths: No official data are available on the number of British businesses that invoice in euros.

Postal Workers (Safety)

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she is taking to protect postal workers from exposure to material contaminated with biological or chemical agents.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 26 October 2001
	Practical measures to protect postal workers are a matter for the companies concerned who are strongly advised to follow the guidance issued by central Government, their agencies and the police. This advice is being kept under review.
	In the case of Consignia, the company is carrying out an assessment with the Health and Safety Executive of what measures are needed to protect its employees.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current security situation in Afghanistan.

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the security situation in Afghanistan.

Geoff Hoon: For three weeks, United States and British forces have been engaged in military action against Usama bin Laden and the al-Qaeda terrorist network and the Taliban regime that shelters them in Afghanistan. The aims of the military action are clear: to destroy the terrorist camps; to pressure the Taliban regime to end its support for Usama bin Laden; and to create the right conditions for future operations in Afghanistan to maintain that pressure.
	We have achieved the first and third of these objectives. The terrorist camps that were known to be in use at the start of military campaign have successfully been put out of action. The coalition has achieved air superiority at medium and high level.
	We are also making good progress against the second objective. We are now focusing on Taliban forces in the field, weakening their ability to retain control of key points of Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the implications of the military action in Afghanistan for future defence policy.

Geoff Hoon: The Strategic Defence Review and the experience and lessons from subsequent operations such as those in Kosovo have left us well placed to take on and defeat international terrorism. We have significantly improved important military capabilities including reconnaissance; intelligence; surveillance; target acquisition; precision strike; rapid deployment; and command and control. But the attacks on the United States have shown that we must build on this success and go further.
	With operations continuing, it would be premature to draw conclusions on the implications for our future defence policy. We are, however, carrying out further work to ensure that our concepts, force structures, and capabilities are exactly those that we need in order to deal with asymmetric threats of the kind that we saw on 11 September. This work will look both at the defence of the UK and at our capability to counter and deter terrorism abroad.
	The Ministry of Defence and the Services have well- practised systems for learning and implementing lessons from operations. These will be applied to Operation Veritas. This will ensure that our plans and policies evolve and that we are prepared for the challenges that we may face in the future.

Veterans

Michael Jabez Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress the veterans forum has made in addressing the needs of veterans; and if he will make a statement.

Lawrie Quinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress the veterans forum has made in addressing the needs of veterans; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: I have chaired two meetings of the veterans forum at which I have agreed with representatives of the veterans' organisations a vision and initial work programme for the initiative. A key objective has been that the initiative should be taken forward as a partnership between ourselves and the veterans' community. We are addressing issues of identity, communication, recognition and care and the action plan we have developed for the future will be focusing in particular on those veterans who are most vulnerable.

Veterans

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his strategic priorities as Minister for Veterans Affairs are.

Lewis Moonie: As Minister for Veterans Affairs my four strategic priorities are:
	1. To develop a partnership between Government and the veterans' organisations.
	2. To recognise the special status of veterans by strengthening the identity of veterans as a group to whom society owes a particular debt.
	3. To gain better recognition of the contribution and achievements of veterans through education, and the part played by veterans in securing national and international stability.
	4. To identify ways of improving the level of care provided to the ex-service community with particular emphasis on those most in need.

Royal Air Force

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total value is of (a) operating and (b) planned private finance initiative/public- private partnership contracts relating to the Royal Air Force.

Lewis Moonie: The total value of the signed PFI deals which are specific to the RAF or where the RAF is the major user is around 850 million in net present value terms. It is not possible to make a meaningful estimate of the total through-life costs of planned PFI contracts at present. A number of projects are under consideration. They include the provision of our future air-to-air refuelling capability and the UK Military Flying Training Services, where the RAF will be a major customer. Each of these projects could involve through-life costs of 10 billion or over. The RAF has also benefited from tri-Service deals such as the provision of commercial vehicles, materials handling and the Defence Fixed Telecommunications Services.

Operation Veritas

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Operation Veritas.

Geoff Hoon: Operation Veritas is the United Kingdom's military contribution to the global response to the terrorist atrocities in the United States on 11 September.
	The aims of military action over the past three weeks are clear: to destroy the terrorist camps; to pressure the Taliban regime to end its support for Usama bin Laden; and to create the right conditions for future operations in Afghanistan to maintain that pressure.
	We have already achieved the first and third of these objectives. The terrorist camps that were known to have been in use at the start of the military action campaign have successfully been put out of action. The coalition has achieved air superiority at medium and high level.
	We are making good progress against the second objective. We are now focusing on Taliban forces in the field, weakening their ability to retain control of key parts of Afghanistan.

Gurkhas

John Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Gurkha soldiers are serving in the British Army; and with which units.

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to increase the number of service personnel in the Gurkha regiments; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The total number of trained Gurkhas in the British Army as at 1 September was 3,500.
	Gurkhas undertake a number of roles, the most significant being infantry but there are also Gurkha Engineers, Gurkha Logisticians and Gurkha Signal specialists. The number of units in the UK in which Gurkhas are currently serving are varied but their most significant collective numbers outside the main Gurkha units are in the Gurkha Reinforcement Companies.

Army Manpower

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Army to reach its full manning strengths.

Adam Ingram: The Army remains firmly committed to achieving full manning by 2005.

Ethnic Minority Recruitment

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures the armed forces are taking to improve recruitment in the armed services of people from minority ethnic communities.

Adam Ingram: The armed forces continue to make vigorous and focused efforts to recruit more of their personnel from the British ethnic minority communities. All three Services have highly active Recruiting and Diversity Action Teams, located in areas of high ethnic minority population; they are engaged in numerous initiatives aimed specifically at encouraging more people from diverse backgrounds into joining the armed forces.

Exercise Saif Sareea II

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops have taken part in Exercise Saif Sareea II.

Geoff Hoon: Approximately 22,500 military personnel, drawn from all three Services, have deployed to Oman to take part in Exercise Saif Sareea II.

Exercise Saif Sareea II

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what programme is in place to assess the success of Exercise Saif Sareea II.

Geoff Hoon: A comprehensive process has been established to assess whether the exercise objectives have been achieved. This process covers the maritime, land, and air environments, as well as the joint task force level. We will also be working with our Omani colleagues to assess the success of the exercise from a combined perspective.

Terrorism

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his Russian counterpart on international terrorism.

Geoff Hoon: I met my Russian counterpart, Sergei Ivanov, in Moscow on 9 October. We had valuable discussions on international terrorism and a range of other issues.
	Together with NATO colleagues, I also discussed terrorism with Mr. Ivanov in Brussels on 26 September.

Macedonia

Albert Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts on operations in Macedonia.

Adam Ingram: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence is in regular contact with the Secretary General of NATO, Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, and has discussed Macedonia with him. He has also recently attended the NATO Informal Defence Ministers meeting on 2627 September and the EU Informal Defence Ministers meeting on 12 October where he discussed a range of matters with NATO colleagues.

A400M

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the A400M programme.

Lewis Moonie: Six of the eight participating nations signed the A400M MOU in June. Since then, the focus has been on progressing contract and price negotiations. We are close to concluding these negotiations and Germany and Portugal are moving towards achieving final parliamentary and ministerial approval. On 16 October, Italy announced its decision not to continue with the programme at present, but the A400M project nevertheless remains fully viable.

European Security and Defence Policy

Sydney Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about progress in implementing the European security and defence policy.

Geoff Hoon: A Capabilities Improvement Conference in November will review progress already made towards the capability target known as the Headline Goal, as well as future plans. It will then address further actions needed. The analysis underpinning this review has been done in full co-operation with NATO. The conference will also review the additional contributions offered by the non-EU European allies and other countries who are candidates for EU accession.
	The EU's political and military bodies in the field of European Security and Defence Policy have been made permanent and have been active in preparing for the implementation of arrangements on such matters as crisis management procedures, security, exercise policy and co-operation with NATO. Work will continue on these issues. The Secretary General High Representative, Javier Solana, and the NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson, have been in close consultation, and there have been a number of meetings between alliance and European Union political and military bodies.

Recruitment (Young People)

Gillian Merron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for promoting careers in the armed forces to young people.

Adam Ingram: We have many initiatives aimed at promoting and encouraging young people to consider a career in the Armed Services. Each Service has school presentation teams, and about 1,000 schools are visited each year. Each Service also deploys Recruiting Presentation Teams who, together with armed forces Careers Office staff, visit schools, careers fairs, exhibitions, youth clubs and organisations and other events. We estimate that over 10,500 visits are undertaken each year. The Services also offer direct work experience to young people through a variety of courses and visits to Service establishments and ships. We aim to offer anyone considering a service career the chance to take a closer look. Armed forces recruiting includes the use of a dedicated careers website for each of the Services. These are proving to be very successful. All these initiatives are supplemented by continued multi-media advertising campaigns.
	We intend to expand this effort by increasing the number of schools presentation teams, appointing a schools adviser in the Ministry of Defence, setting up a schools page on our website and developing material for teachers and pupils. All of this will be linked in to the curricula.

International Peacekeeping

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future role of British forces in international peacekeeping.

Geoff Hoon: Since the Strategic Defence Review in 1998, our armed forces have been involved in both continuing and new peacekeeping operations, such as those in the Balkans, Sierra Leone, East Timor, and Cyprus. These recent experiences have shown that our armed forces are particularly effective at carrying out these difficult tasks and so acting as a force for good in the world.
	We remain committed to participating, where appropriate and possible, in international peacekeeping operations.

Tactical Communications

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in improving tactical communications for the armed forces in the last 12 months.

Lewis Moonie: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, East (Jane Griffiths).

Armed Services Manpower

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the manpower strength is of each of the armed services.

Adam Ingram: As at 1 September, the trained strength of the Naval Service was 37,780, the Army 100,304 and the RAF 49,535.

Procurement

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made to procurement priorities since the strategic defence review was published.

Geoff Hoon: Recent and current operations have shown that the procurement priorities set out in the strategic defence review were broadly correct. We shall be looking again to ensure we have the right capabilities to meet the additional challenges from international terrorism.

Joint Strike Fighter

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in the selection of the prime contractor for the engineering manufacturing development phase of the joint strike fighter programme.

Geoff Hoon: It was announced in Washington on Friday 26 October that Lockheed Martin has been selected for the contract award.
	The UK participated fully in the selection process, and the decision is good news for our armed forces and for UK defence companies teamed with Lockheed Martin.
	The aircraft, which will meet our future joint combat aircraft (FJCA) requirement, will incorporate advanced stealth technology and will be able to conduct multi-role operations from the sea and from the land. The decision represents a further important step, following the strategic defence review, to provide the UK with up-to-date flexible expeditionary air power capability.
	UK industry stands to gain substantial benefits. The value of the work for UK companies over the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase is of the order of 3 billion with much further work in production and support activities in years to come. Lockheed Martin assesses that up to 3,500 jobs could be sustained or created during EMD rising to 8,500 in the later phases.

Service Accommodation

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact on the recruitment and retention of service personnel of the standard of accommodation.

Lewis Moonie: We have no evidence of a link between the standard of accommodation and recruiting. However, continuous attitude surveys among Service personnel and their families do indicate that the standard of accommodation may influence personnel in making their decision to leave, although it is far from being the most significant factor.
	We recognise, therefore, the importance of good quality accommodation for Service personnel and their families and we are committed to upgrading both Service Families Accommodation and Single Living Accommodation. In Great Britain the Defence Housing Executive is aiming to upgrade all of its core Service Families Accommodation to Standard 1 for condition (the highest grade) by November 2005. Furthermore, a project team was formed this year to oversee 1 billion worth of investment over the next 10 years to upgrade Single Living Accommodation. This money is in addition to the 1 billion that was already committed to the upgrade programme over the same period.
	We believe that these commitments to upgrading accommodation will benefit all Service personnel and their families and thus have a positive effect on armed forces retention.

Recruitment (Commonwealth Countries)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to recruit more people from Commonwealth countries to the armed forces.

Adam Ingram: Recruitment into the armed forces is open to British and Commonwealth citizens, and Republic of Ireland nationals. The Services do not actively promote armed forces careers in Commonwealth countries. Selection and recruitment teams visit those Commonwealth countries where the number of expected applicants justify the effort, and where an invitation to conduct visits has been received from the Government in question.
	Negotiations are currently under way for the next, annual tri-Service recruiting mission to the UK Dependent Territory of St. Helena to take place in June 2002 in conjunction with the island's centenary celebrations. The Navy plans to visit St. Vincent and the Grenadines in February 2002.
	The Army plans to send selection teams to St. Lucia in February and May 2002, and to St. Vincent and the Grenadines in July 2002 at the request of the respective Governments. The RAF has no current plans to recruit abroad.

Overseas Operations

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the operational name, location and strength of all operations under way by UK armed forces overseas; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: As of 23 October 2001, the operational deployments of UK Service personnel are as shown in the table.
	
		
			 Countries Military personnel 
		
		
			 Northern Ireland some 13,500 
			   
			 Kosovo (including supporting elements in the Former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Greece some 3,200 
			   
			 Bosnia (including support elements in Croatia and Italy some 1,750 
			   
			 Former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) 4 
			   
			 Cyprus some 3,600 (including some 400 supporting UN operations) 
			   
			 Falkland Islands some 1,200 
			   
			 Gibraltar some 400 
			   
			 Sierra Leone some 400 personnel on the ground (including around 20 members of the UN operation) 
			   
			 Middle East countries in support of UN Security Resolutions in respect of Iraq some 950 
		
	
	We provide support to the UN operations in:
	Kuwait: 11
	East Timor: 4
	The Democratic Republic of Congo: 5
	Georgia: 7.
	We also maintain patrols by our ballistic nuclear deterrent submarines.
	In addition, we have been providing around 4,200 personnel in support of the coalition against international terrorism, based in the theatre and in the US.
	Operational codewords, when linked to their meaning, are classified, and I am withholding this information in accordance with clause 1a of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Departmental Spending (Deprived Areas)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the expenditure by his Department in each of the years (a) 199697, (b) 199798, (c) 199899, (d) 19992000, (e) 200001, (f) 200102 and (g) 200203 (estimated) was allocated with reference to the Index of Multiple Deprivation; which expenditure programmes are allocated with respect to this index and other measures of relative geographic deprivation; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 25 October 2001
	The Ministry of Defence allocates defence expenditure in order to improve operational effectiveness and achieve value for money. Since 1999 the MOD has used the Index of Multiple Deprivation, along with other measures of social conditions, to inform decisions such as unit moves, site rationalisations and investment decisions on new facilities. The MOD does not, however, allocate expenditure with sole reference or respect to the Index of Multiple Deprivation or other measures of relative geographic deprivation.
	Although the MOD does not solely allocate expenditure with respect to measures of geographic deprivation, a number of the activities we sponsor do assist areas of high deprivation. The 'Skill Force' programme, for example, is helping 47 schools in 11 areas, all of which are in areas that are among the most deprived in the UK. Skill Force is a MOD sponsored programme that uses retired military instructors to deliver a range of vocational skills training to young people.

Meat

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussion he has had with the Meat and Livestock Commission about the sourcing of meat for consumption by the armed forces from United Kingdom sources; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: We continue to work closely with the Meat and Livestock Commission to explore ways to increase the proportion of British meat we buy competitively. This has been a successful partnership and contributed to, for example, the supply of 100 per cent. British beef to our UK-based Service personnel between autumn 1998 and summer 2000. We continually monitor, with the Meat and Livestock Commission, the list of meat products required for the armed forces, and look for products which can be supplied from wholly United Kingdom sources. As a direct result of this communication and frequent meetings between the Defence Catering Group, the Meat and Livestock Commission and '3663', our food contractor, a range of British meat products have been added to a core list of products available to the armed forces, including British lamb shoulder and British thick rib beef. We will continue our dialogue with the Meat and Livestock Commission in order to maximise the amount of British product that can be supplied competitively.

Meat

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much (a) beef, (b) lamb and (c) pork was purchased since 1 January 2000 for consumption by the armed forces; how much of it was sourced from the United Kingdom; at what total costs; and what the per tonne cost from (i) United Kingdom and (ii) overseas sources has been.

Lewis Moonie: Since 1997 the task of buying food for the armed forces has been contracted to '3663' (formerly known as Booker Foodservice) and it is the Ministry of Defence's policy to require them to seek the best price in the open market; to do otherwise would contravene European law. Our contractor is specifically required to give full consideration to British products, which we look to them to buy wherever they are competitive.
	Since January 2000, 3,983 tonnes of beef, 1,369 tonnes of lamb and 2,075 tonnes of pork have been supplied to the armed forces by '3663'. The average annual cost of beef and lamb is some 6 million and 2 million respectively. The average annual cost of all pig meat, including pork, is 2.5 million.
	In the case of beef, during the year 2000, 87 per cent. of all beef supplied (1,892 tonnes) was sourced from the UK. This followed the agreement we secured from the EC to release British intervention beef at competitive prices. As was announced to the House in July 2000 and again in May 2001, these stocks ran out during the summer of 2000 and market prices dictated that a mixture of British and imported beef would be required. Consequently, this year 31 per cent. of beef (571 tonnes) has been sourced from the UK.
	In the case of pork and lamb, since January 2000, 84 per cent. of all pork supplied (1,750 tonnes and 4 per cent. of all lamb supplied (17 tonnes) was sourced from the UK.
	We continue to work in partnership with '3663' to explore ways to increase the proportion of British meat that is supplied to our armed forces. Both the Ministry and '3663' remain committed to buying meat from UK sources wherever they are competitive.

Meat

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will instruct procurement officers responsible for the supply of meat to British service personnel stationed in the Falkland Islands to buy exclusively from the EU-approved abattoir on the islands.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence has a contract for food supply with '3663' formerly trading as Booker Foodservice. The contract includes responsibility for the procurement of all commodities including meat and offal. The role of the Ministry of Defence's Defence Catering Group (DCG) is to work with the contractor to ensure that meat supplied to UK armed forces is procured from reputable sources and offers best value for money. This partnering approach extends to DCG making recommendations to '3663' regarding new sources of supply and supplementing '3663's own sourcing and quality assurance activities. The DCG is monitoring the development of the fledgling meat industry in the Falkland Islands and continues to assess the volumes of production, product availability and the quality standard of meat from the limited range of products available from the abattoir recently constructed to EU standards. It is understood that, for the foreseeable future, the output of the abattoir will be limited to lamb only. Any decision to procure meat from this particular facility to feed British service personnel in the Falkland Islands will ultimately rest with '3663' who will ensure that our stringent quality requirements are met or exceeded.

Tungsten

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the military value of tungsten as an alternative to depleted uranium.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 22 October 2001
	The Ministry of Defence has funded research into both the metallurgical and ballistic aspects of tungsten penetrators in tank ammunition over a period of more than 30 years. With other UK research this has produced extensive data on the performance of different tungsten materials and designs. Depleted uranium has consistently outperformed tungsten alloy equivalents as a kinetic penetrator when employed in anti-armour weapon systems; its use, therefore, offers increased operational effectiveness. In recent years, a new tungsten round has been developed for the Royal Navy's Phalanx close-in-weapons system. Anti-armour properties are not important for this weapon system; in this case, a tungsten round offers improved performance. Since 1996 all replacement ammunition for the Phalanx system has been of the tungsten variety.

Sovereign Bases

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights is applicable to servicemen serving on sovereign bases.

Adam Ingram: While the European Convention on Human Rights does not apply within the UK sovereign base areas on Cyprus, Service personnel are able to assert their rights under Article 6 of the Convention against UK public authorities wherever they are stationed.

Biological and Chemical Threats

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of measures to detect biological and chemical threats to British forces.

Lewis Moonie: We take very seriously the need to protect UK armed forces personnel against all threats, including the potential hazards presented by chemical and biological weapons. We therefore constantly monitor the threat, and make adjustments to our response as changing circumstances warrant. Service personnel are protected by a combination of detectors, protective equipment, medical countermeasures and operational procedures, supported by a proactive research and development programme to enhance our defensive capability in this area.

Depleted Uranium

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what use of depleted uranium has been authorised by his Department for use in the production of military equipment or materials of any kind within the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence employs depleted uranium (DU) in three principal ways. It is used in ammunition for the weapons systems for the Challenger II tank and the Royal Navy's Phalanx close in weapon system. A DU-based round was also developed for use in the Challenger 1 tank for use in the Gulf conflict. C-130J/K Hercules and Tristar aircraft and some Wessex helicopters use DU as either a counterweight or as ballast. DU is used to shield radiological sources (such as nuclear reactors) and in nuclear medicine. In addition, small amounts of DU are used for defence research purposes, and some nuclear weapons also contain uranium in this form.

Northern Ireland

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what immediate changes to armed force deployment in Northern Ireland he plans; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to the House on 24 October 2001, Official Report, columns 30219. While the Government have made it clear they will consider further moves on normalisation, any subsequent measures will take account of the prevailing security situation at the time.

Service Complements

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects each of the three Services to reach their full manning strengths.

Adam Ingram: Although the Naval Service will not achieve broad manning balance by the year 200304, it is determined to do so before 2005 and work continues on measures to achieve this. The RAF is in broad manning balance and aims to achieve its Public Service Agreement target of full manning by March 2004. The Army remains committed to full manning by 2005.

TREASURY

Payroll Services Review

Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when Mr. Patrick Carter's review of payroll services will be completed.

Dawn Primarolo: Patrick Carter's review of payroll services has been completed.

Expenditure (Scotland)

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 17 October 2001, Official Report, column 1261W, how much money in real terms has been spent in Scotland on policy areas which are the responsibility of (a) the Scottish Executive, (b) the Scotland Office and (c) other UK Government Departments since 1 July 1999.

Andrew Smith: Information on expenditure by the Scottish Executive and the Scotland Office is published in the Annual Expenditure Report of the Scottish Executive and the Scotland Office Departmental Report. The latest available breakdown of identifiable total managed expenditure by country was published in Chapter 8 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses in April 2001.

NHS Funding

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research his Department is conducting into different mechanisms for funding the national health service; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: holding answer 25 October 2001
	Budget 2001 announced that Derek Wanless, former Group Chief Executive of Natwest bank, would be leading the review commissioned by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to provide a long-term assessment of the technological, demographic and medical trends over the next two decades that will affect the health service.
	In the light of these trends, the review will identify the key factors which will determine the financial and other resources required to ensure that the NHS can provide a publicly funded, comprehensive, high-quality service available on the basis of clinical need and not the ability to pay. The review will report to the Chancellor by April 2002.

National Changeover Plan

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to date has been of the Government's national changeover plan.

Ruth Kelly: Details of expenditure on national changeover planning were included in the Fourth Report on Euro Preparations, published on 6 November 2000. Copies of the report are available in the Library of the House.
	The Government will provide an updated breakdown of public sector spending in the next progress report, which will be published later this year.

Climate Change Levy

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue would be forgone if full exemption from the climate change levy were applied to combined heat and power plants.

Paul Boateng: No such estimate has been made.

Frozen Assets

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will happen to the assets that were frozen by the Government from the bank accounts under UN Resolutions 1267 (Taliban), and 1333 (Usama bin Laden).

Ruth Kelly: UN Security Council Resolutions 1267 and 1333 call upon states to freeze the assets of the persons listed in the annexes to each UNSCR. The assets will remain frozen until the Security Council repeals the resolutions.

Departmental Assets

Tony Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  for what reason it was decided to dispose of items of silver originally ordered for the Privy Council; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will withdraw from sale the Privy Council silver due to be sold at public auction on 30 October; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will list the (a) silver, (b) paintings, (c) sculptures, (d) books and (e) other works of art disposed of by his Department at auction or by private treaty in each of the last five years;
	(4)  of which assets held by his Department he plans to dispose;
	(5)  if the Privy Council silver which is up for sale was offered to public institutions before the decision to dispose of the items at public auction;
	(6)  if he will make it his policy to penalise Government Departments which do not dispose of assets that do not produce a return.

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans his Department has to sell off (a) silver candlesticks, (b) silver candle snuffers, (c) silver trays, (d) silver meat-skewers, (e) paintings, (f) antiques, (g) fine wines and (h) furniture; if he will list such items (i) sold by his Department since May 1997 and (ii) planned to be sold by his Department over the next two years; if he will list the age and value of each item; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 24 October 2001
	The introduction of Resource Accounting and Budgeting is encouraging a number of Departments, including HM Treasury, to reduce their asset holdings in order to focus public resources where they are most needed. That process will continue.
	The Government remain of the view that HM Treasury is not the most appropriate long-term owner of the four lots of silver items made for the Privy Council and referred to in the question. However, they recognise the case which has been made for ensuring that those items are available to be seen by the UK public.
	A number of possible future owners of these items have come forward. To allow discussions with those parties to proceed, the items have been withdrawn from auction. Any further proposals which may come forward will also be explored.

Health Spending

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his target of increasing health spending to the EU average includes raising non-Government health spending to average EU levels.

John Hutton: I have been asked to reply.
	We aim to increase total health expenditure in the United Kingdom up to the average of the countries of the European Union, which is around 8 per cent. of gross domestic product. By the end of the present spending review period (200304), we expect that total UK expenditure on health will have reached 7.7 per cent. of gross domestic product. This assumes private sector spending will remain at around 1 per cent. of GDP. Expenditure beyond this period will be decided in future spending reviews.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Policy Announcements

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what changes in policy relating to (a) issuing press notices and (b) making other forms of announcements he has put into effect since 11 September.

Nick Brown: We have not put into place any new arrangements for issuing press notices or making any other forms of announcements since 11 September. There has been no change in policy.

Jobcentre Plus

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria he used to determine the pathfinder areas for the introduction of the Jobcentre Plus work- focused interviewing scheme.

Nick Brown: The Jobcentre Plus pathfinder offices were chosen to provide a mixture of rural, urban and inner city offices. Other criteria used included having the capacity for the staff processing claims to be close to the staff giving work-focused interviews; having the capacity for Jobpoints to be installed by October; being in clusters linked to a single Benefits Agency district or office within a district; having sufficient office space to cope with more customers; having a high level of performance and good working relationships with stakeholders; and having boundaries which matched local authority boundaries.

Jobcentre Plus

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what specific measures he has proposed to allow those living in rural constituencies without a jobcentre nearby access to personal advice from his Department.

Nick Brown: From April next year, the Employment Service and the parts of the Benefits Agency that support people of working age will come together to form a new business, Jobcentre Plus. We are aiming to launch 15 of the 17 Jobcentre Plus pathfinder areas this month, comprising around 50 pathfinder offices. We anticipate that the remaining two pathfinder areas will be operating by the end of the year, once building work is completed. As the service rolls out, we will deliver an integrated service to employers and benefit claimants of working age nationally.
	Jobcentre Plus will offer a significantly enhanced telephone service that will improve access to the service for those who do not live near a Jobcentre Plus office. Each Jobcentre Plus pathfinder office will have a dedicated telephone contact centre open from 8.30 am to 6.00 pm. Customers will be able to make their initial claim to benefit through this service and book appointments with personal advisers. Customers will also be able to access job vacancies over the telephone through Employment Service Direct.
	Jobcentre Plus will also have its own internet site with information on the service and links to the Employment Service Job Bank and Worktrain sites, which offer a vast range of job and training opportunities and advice on job searching.
	There are several Jobcentre Plus pathfinder offices in rural locations, and the managers in those places will be further developing the service they offer to meet the needs of rural communities.
	The development of services for people in rural communities is not confined to the Jobcentre Plus pathfinders, with both the Benefits Agency and the Employment Service already undertaking valuable outreach work. In north Yorkshire for example, the Northallerton and Richmond Jobcentres are engaged in outreach work to some of their outlying rural areas. Vacancy lists are put on display in a large number of local post offices and Jobcentre clinics are held in three locationsHawes, Leyburn and Catterickfor half a day each week.

Jobcentre Plus

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received regarding his plans to remove protective screens for Benefits Agency staff; what risk assessment has been undertaken and by whom; what consultation he has had with the relevant trade unions; and what account he has taken of the views expressed.

Nick Brown: Jobcentre Plus is a new service which brings together the Employment Service and those parts of the Benefits Agency which deal with people of working age. Jobcentre Plus will provide a far more personalised, customer friendly and work-focused service for both employers and individuals. The first 49 Jobcentre Plus pathfinder offices opened on 22 October.
	Central to the new service is our ability to provide face-to-face advice to members of the public. That can be done only in a predominantly unscreened environment. To that end we have invested considerable sums of money in building a far more friendly and safer environment than any we have had in the past. In particular we take the issue of the safety of both the public and our staff very seriously. We have therefore been involved in discussions with the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) about some of their members' concerns about the new working arrangements, both at national and local level.
	Employment Service and Land Securities Trillium risk assessors have carried out risk assessments in each pathfinder office. Drawing on those assessments, and following consultation with local trade union health and safety representatives, we have introduced a series of extra security measures. These include: wide coverage by closed circuit television; training for staff in how to handle difficult situations; better management in each office to avoid difficult situations building up; panic alarms; and more visible and more effective security guards. Additionally, in each pathfinder area there are screened facilities to deal with individuals and parts of the business which pose a greater risk. We believe that these measures demonstrate that we are taking security even more seriously than we have done in the past.

Benefits Take-up

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what date he received the 'Take-up of Income Related Benefits: Statistics for 19992000' report which was published on 27 September; and what arrangements he made for the publication of the report on receiving it.

Nick Brown: The report 'Take-up of Income Related Benefits: 19992000' was published in line with departmental protocol for the release of national statistics. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State received an advance copy of the report 48 hours before the publication date. The publication date was set by DWP statisticians and pre-announced in the Office for National Statistics' series Updates on 10 September.

Motability

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a copy of the financial accounts made to him by Motability Finance Ltd. for each of the last five years; and if he will make it his policy that in future years the financing of the Motability scheme be undertaken on a not-for-profit basis.

Maria Eagle: Copies of the financial accounts of Motability Finance Ltd. for each of the five years to 30 September 2000 have been placed in the Library. The level of the profit margin allowed to Motability Finance Ltd. is a matter for negotiation between Motability and Motability Finance Ltd. The allowed profit margin since 1 March 1999 has been 0.85 per cent. per annum.

New Deal (Young People)

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many persons left the new deal for young people for (a) unsubsidised jobs and (b) sustained unsubsidised jobs in small and medium enterprises according to the most recent available figures; and if he will give a breakdown of this figure as a proportion of those leaving the gateway period and each of the four options;
	(2)  how many of the persons on the full time education and training option under the new deal for young people (a) left the option for employment, (b) completed their course and (c) obtained a qualification in each year since the inception of the new deal; and if he will list the qualifications obtained.

Nick Brown: The results of the new deal for young people are contained in the monthly Statistical First Releases which are placed in the Library.

Pension Credit

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research he has undertaken to ensure that the pension credit is sufficiently easy to understand by the target market.

Ian McCartney: The Department has taken into consideration results from a range of research, including Overcoming Barriers: Older People and Income Support (DSS Research Report No 100, 1999) and Attitudes and Aspirations of Older People: A Qualitative Study (DSS Research Report 102, 1999), and responses to the consultation exercise, The Pension Credit: a consultation paper (Cm 4900, November 2000), in the design of pension credit.

Departmental Advertising

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the final cost of each of his Department's advertising campaigns was in 200001, broken down into (a) advertising media and production and (b) other costs.

Nick Brown: The information is in the table:
	
		 
		
			  Advertising and media Other costs 
		
		
			 Targeting benefit fraud 5,747,000 402,252 
			 National Benefit Fraud Hotline advertising 425,178  
			 Minimum Income Guarantee 3,365,000 (14)176,000 
			 Inherited SERPS 340,000 345,000 
			 Winter Fuel Payments 616,000 294,000 
			 Pensions Education(15) (16)5,232,000 1,297,000 
			 Bereavement Benefits 155,000 90,000 
			 New Deal for Young People 558,201 951,728 
			 New Deal 50+ 2,175,367 63,793 
			 New Deal Partners 99,445 67,310 
			 Action Teams for Jobs 58,504 440 
			 New Deal for Disabled People 31,372 240,387 
		
	
	(14) This includes 30,985 customer research into a new MIG claim form which straddled two financial years.
	(15) In addition to the total of 6,529,062 (which was rounded to 6,530,000) 103,370 was spent on completing our previous pensions education activity (with a Monopoly theme) that preceded the new Working Dogs campaign, as well as some developmental work that was undertaken before the new Working Dogs Campaign was launched.
	(16) The overall Pensions Education marketing budget figure remains unchanged at 6,529,062 (which was rounded to 6,530,000). Within this total, the advertising media and production cost given previously has changed from 5,212,000 to 5,232,000. This takes account of some photography costs that were previously included as part of other costs, but can be directly attributed to advertising.

Means-tested Benefits

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent in respect of each means-tested benefit, on (a) benefit up take advertising and (b) anti-fraud advertising; in respect of these benefits, how many members of staff are involved in (i) benefit up-take initiatives and (ii) anti-fraud initiatives; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: During the financial year 200001, 3.54 million was spent on the Minimum Income Guarantee take up advertising campaign as well as 8.12 million on other benefit awareness advertising campaigns and 4.25 million on employment programmes.
	6.15 million was spent during 200001 on the Targeting Fraud advertising campaign and 425,000 was spent on advertising the National Benefit Fraud Hotline, which includes the Shared Fraud Hotline pilot.
	We aim to ensure that all people receive the benefits that they are entitled to and that these benefits are administered in a secure manner. This means that encouraging benefit take-up and tackling fraud in the benefit system are integral to the work of all staff within the Department.

Benefits Agency

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employees formerly employed by the Benefits Agency have left to join the Pensions Service since its creation.

Nick Brown: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 4 July 2001, Official Report, column 196W that the Pension Service and Jobcentre Plus organisations would come into existence in April 2002.
	A co-ordinated approach is being taken to staffing the new organisations in order to ensure business continuity across all parts of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Benefits Agency

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what date he received the BFI report on the Benefits Agency which was published on 28 September; and what arrangements he made for the publication of the report on receiving it.

Nick Brown: We received the BFI's report on the Benefits Agency on 26 September 2001.
	We published the report on 28 September 2001 by placing a copy of the report in the House of Commons Library. In addition, an electronic copy of the report was made available on the BFI website which also advised that hard copies are available from the Department's Library.
	To publicise the publication, we issued a press release. As with other BFI reports, copies of this report were distributed to a number of public bodies, local authorities and interested parties who had previously requested copies of BFI reports.

Benefit Fraud

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of (a) monetary error and (b) fraud in (i) Income Support, (ii) Jobseeker's Allowance and (iii) Housing Benefit for each year since 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: Ongoing estimates of the monetary value of fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance are published in the series of reports Fraud and Error in Claims for Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance which are placed in the Library.
	The latest estimate for the monetary value of fraud and error in Housing Benefit was published in the report National Housing Benefit Accuracy Review 1997/98 which is also in the Library. In April this year we set up the Housing Benefit Review which will deliver an on-going measurement of fraud and error in Housing Benefit.

PRIME MINISTER

White Papers

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions in the last 12 months confidential final revise proof copies of white papers have been made available under embargo to (a) the Lobby and Upper Gallery and (b) members of other organised groups of correspondents, before publication; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: Paragraphs 9496 of the ministerial code set out the arrangements whereby confidential final revise proof copies of White Papers can be made available under embargo to the Lobby and Upper Gallery, and with discretion to members of other organised groups of correspondents, a short time before publication. Detailed information in the form requested is not held centrally.

Muslim Community

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister how many times he has met representatives of the Muslim community since 11 September; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I have met representatives of the Muslim community on several occasions since 11 September. I have been struck by the way that Muslim leaders and clerics have responded to these terrible events. The vast majority of Muslims totally condemn the acts which are wholly contrary to the Islamic faith.

India

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to make an official visit to India.

Tony Blair: I visited India on 56 October as part of the efforts to deepen the international coalition against terrorism. I have no plans for a further visit at present but wish to do so as soon as I can.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Islamic Marriages

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will require Islamic marriages entered into by persons who are UK citizens to be registered in the UK.

Rosie Winterton: Marriage ceremonies which take place in England and Wales should be in accordance with the Marriage Act 1949. The Act allows for civil marriages to take place in a register office or approved premises.
	The trustees of a mosque can apply for the building to be registered for marriages under s.41 of the Act. Once registered, marriages can take place there without the need for a separate civil ceremony.
	Registration of Islamic marriages is already required in order to meet the criteria of the Marriage Act 1949.

Judges (Transport Arrangements)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what recent changes he has made to judges' transport arrangements applying to those using judges lodgings to make them more effective; what the savings from the changes are; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: As my hon. Friend will be aware, judges are provided with a car and driver for all travel between lodgings and courts and for other official journeys while at the lodgings. Judges are not provided with official transport for private travel.
	A pilot exercise was carried out during 2000 to assess the feasibility of using multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) to transport judges to and from lodgings. At smaller lodgings, the use of high-quality saloon cars has also been encouraged.
	The Lord Chancellor has recently approved the introduction of more cost-effective transport across the lodgings network, focusing on the use of MPVs and saloon cars in place of limousines. The changes are likely to save over 200,000 per year once implemented.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Music Standards Fund

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was paid to each local education authority in England from the Music Standards Fund in each year since 1999.

Stephen Timms: The amounts paid to each LEA from the Music Standards Fund for each year since 1999 are contained in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library.
	The figures for 200102 represent the grant allocated from the Music Standards Fund to each LEA and not amounts actually paid as we are still in the 200001 financial year.

Ministerial Meetings

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the official meetings between Ministers and officials in her Department and representatives of the Local Government Association since 7 June, indicating in each case which representatives were present.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 15 October 2001
	Details of meetings between Ministers and officials of the Department for Education and Skills and representatives of the Local Government Association are set out in the table.
	
		
			 Minister present Local Government Association representatives Date 
		
		
			 Secretary of State; Stephen Timms Graham Lane; David Wilcox 25 June 2001 
			 Secretary of State; Stephen Timms Graham Lane; Ronnie Norman 2 July 2001 
			 Baroness Ashton Graham Lane (Way Forward Group on School Governance) 3 July 2001 
			 Secretary of State Sir Jeremy Beecham 18 July 2001 
			 Secretary of State Sir Jeremy Beecham 30 July 2001 
			 Margaret Hodge; John Healey Graham Lane; David Wilcox; Ian Mearns 19 September 2001 
			 Ivan Lewis Graham Lane; David Wilcox; Richard Marbrow; Angela Roberts; Don Rule 25 September 2001 
			 Stephen Timms Graham Lane; David Cornwell; David Wilcox; Ronnie Norman 26 September 2001

Tuition Fees

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will estimate the cost of the abolition of tuition fees in the 200203 financial year; what plans she has to review the impact of tuition fees on entry levels into higher education from social classes D and E; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The estimated cost of abolishing student contributions to tuition fees in England and Wales in the financial year 200203 would be 270 million in cash terms. This figure represents only a proportion of the full year cost. The full year cost, for academic year 200203, would be 410 million in cash terms setting aside any implications for student support. We are currently reviewing the student funding arrangements. We need to ensure that we have an appropriate balance between the contribution made by students, their families and the state to support our ambitions to widen access and participation in higher education. A range of policy options is being considered. No decisions have been taken.

Anglia Polytechnic University

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many applicants were accepted for a place at the Anglia Polytechnic University at the beginning of the current academic year and in each of the previous three academic years for (a) full-time courses and (b) part- time courses.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 26 October 2001
	The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) has not yet published final figures for the number of accepted applicants at Anglia Polytechnic University this year. The latest published figures show that, by the end of June, applications for 2001 entry were 10,738, an increase of 13.8 per cent. on the same time last year.
	Final figures for accepted applicants to full-time undergraduate courses in previous years are given in the first table; UCAS does not cover applicants to part-time undergraduate courses.
	The available data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) for entrants to part-time courses are given in the second table; final figures for 200001 will be available in December.
	
		Accepted applicants via UCAS to full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses at Anglia Polytechnic University
		
			 Year of entry Number(17) 
		
		
			 1998 1,942 
			 1999 2,144 
			 2000 1,893 
		
	
	(17) Covers first degrees and HND courses. Each applicant can make up to six applications
	
		Entrants(18) to part-time undergraduate(19) Courses at Anglia Polytechnic University
		
			 Academic year Entrants 
		
		
			 199899 3,678 
			 19992000 4,665 
		
	
	(18) Based on a census count as at December 1
	(19) Covers first degree, HND, HNC and other undergraduate courses
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency's student record

School Financing

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she plans to announce her proposals to introduce a new system of finance for schools; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: As part of the review of local government funding we have set up two working groups, with local government and schools partners, to develop proposals for a new LEA and school funding system. We will be in a position to make proposals for the new system by the summer of 2002.

University Staff

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 22 October 2001, Official Report, columns 4244W, on university staff, when the information was first made public; and in what format.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 25 October 2001
	This information was first made public in the answer given on 22 October 2001, Official Report, columns 4244W.

Learning and Skills Councils

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of employees (a) there are, (b) were transferred from the former training and enterprise councils, (c) were transferred from the former Further Education Funding Council, (d) were recruited directly from local authorities and (e) were recruited directly from private sector employers in each of the local learning and skills councils.

Margaret Hodge: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. I have therefore asked John Harwood, the Council's Chief Executive, to write to my hon. Friend and to place a copy of his reply in the Library.

Education SSA

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what factors will be included in the standard spending assessment formula for education in Worcestershire; if she will consult on the formula prior to its introduction in April 2003; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: We expect that the new education funding formula for schools will consist of an amount per pupil, with enhancements for authorities where significant deprivation adds to education costs, and a separate enhancement for areas where schools need to pay more to recruit and retain staff. The Government will consult widely on the formulae for services funded through the local government finance system, including that for education, prior to the introduction of a new system in April 2003.

Education SSA

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what transitional arrangements she plans to make during the move to a new standard spending assessment formula for education in Worcestershire from April 2003; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: There will be no changes to the current formula for education standard spending assessments before 200304, when we will be introducing a new system of funding assessments for schools and local education authorities. We have no plans to pay transitional grant in 200203.

Pupil Performance

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the relative performance of year seven and year eight pupils in secondary and middle schools in the last three years.

Stephen Timms: We do not have data on which to base a statement.

Key Stage 1

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information is (a) collected by her Department and (b) published on the performance of individual schools at key stage 1; and what plans she has to widen publication.

Stephen Timms: At key stage 1, my Department collects individual pupil level data for task and test results in English and mathematics and teacher assessment results in English, mathematics and science. These results are aggregated at national level and published, together with the key stage 2 and 3 results, in a Statistical Release and included in the autumn package of pupil performance information that is sent to schools. Results aggregated at local education authority level are also published nationally. The key stage 1 results are not published at school level and there are no plans to widen the publication of these results.

Music Lessons

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many primary pupils indicated a wish to learn a musical instrument in the last 12 months; and how many did so.

Stephen Timms: The Department does not collect this information centrally, although we are keen to encourage primary school pupils to learn a musical instrument. We have pledged that, over time, all primary school pupils who want to will be able to do so. The Department is considering a range of options to fulfil this pledge. It is an important part of our drive to ensure that all pupils, regardless of their background, have access to a wide range of extra-curricular activities.
	We are also committed to supporting LEA instrumental music tuition. The Music Standards Fund was introduced to halt the decline in LEA music services. Between 1999 and 2004 270 million has been made available to protect and expand local music services.

Higher Education

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent research she has commissioned on the relationship between participation in higher education and economic performance.

Margaret Hodge: The Department launched the Centre for the Economics of Education (CEE) in February 2000 to undertake research into the economics of education. This centre has published several studies that have examined the economic benefits from education, including higher education. This research shows that the economic benefits from participating in higher education are substantial. The Labour Force Survey shows that graduates now earn 35 per cent. more than the average salary. This differential reflects graduates' higher productivity. Research shows that the earnings gains enjoyed by graduates have been maintained during the expansion in HE during the last 25 years. This indicates the continued strong growth in the demand for graduates.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Combined Heat and Power

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when her review of the combined heat and power strategy will be published.

Michael Meacher: We will be issuing a draft Government strategy for consultation by the end of this year.

Combined Heat and Power

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to exempt combined heat and power from the climate change levy.

Michael Meacher: All good quality CHP fuel use and heat supply is exempt from the climate change levy, as is power supplied on site or direct to known users. Any changes to these arrangements would be a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Combined Heat and Power

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many individual generators there were; what was the installed capacity of combined heat and power; and how much total power was generated from combined heat and power in each month between January 2000 and October 2001.

Michael Meacher: Comprehensive data on CHP capacity are produced in the annual Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES), which is published each July. Data collated from the year 2000, show there were 1,556 CHP schemes in operation, CHP capacity totalled 4,632 MWe, with a total of 23,295 GWh total power output. No data are available for the individual months between January 2000 and October 2001.

Combined Heat and Power

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what further measures the Government will introduce to encourage the installation of combined heat and power to ensure that its target is reached by 2010;
	(2)  what is the installed capacity for combined heat and power; and how much her Department estimates this installed capacity will be in (a) 2005 and (b) 2010;
	(3)  what proportion of combined heat and power capacity has been lost since the introduction of the New Electricity Trading Arrangements in March.

Michael Meacher: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Joan Ruddock) on 17 October 2001, Official Report, column 1082W.

Combined Heat and Power

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government's combined heat and power strategy will be published.

Michael Meacher: We will be issuing a draft Government strategy for consultation by the end of this year.

Recycling

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which councils have introduced user-friendly domestic and commercial waste recycling programmes; and what plans the Government have to encourage more councils to establish such programmes.

Michael Meacher: Local authorities operate a variety of collection schemes, through civic amenity sites, bring sites and kerbside collection.
	Local authorities are required to collect commercial waste if requested to do so, but may charge. They will therefore do so only where it is convenient for the business concerned. We have no specific information on the arrangements for recycling this material.
	Under best value local authorities must provide information on the percentage of the population that is currently served by kerbside collection of recyclables or is within 1 km radius of a recycling centre. The latest data are at the following website: www.local-regions.dtlr.gov.uk/ bestvalue/indicators.
	The latest information on kerbside schemes alone show that these are continuing to develop and now provide nearly 30 per cent. of recycled material and cover around 43 per cent. of households in England and Wales. These schemes currently produce on average 81 kg per household per annum for those households covered, however there is a wide range with some schemes achieving very low yields and a few achieving more than 200 kg. The success of schemes depend on both participation and capture rates. Rates of participation are typically in the range 3085 per cent.
	We have set challenging statutory performance standards for every local authority which overall triple household waste recycling and composting. As a minimum local authorities must deliver 10 per cent. recycling and/or composting of household waste by 200304 and 18 per cent. by 200506. It is for local authorities to decide how they should meet their performance standard.
	We support the promotion of voluntary initiatives such as accredited environmental management systems EMAS and ISO 14001 and publicly committing to improvement targets (eg the re-launched Making a Corporate Commitment campaign) to help local authorities improve their environmental performance and waste management services.

Recycling

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on progress towards meeting the requirements of the EU directive on the recycling of household waste.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 18 October 2001
	There is no EU directive on the recycling of household waste. The EU landfill directive (99/31/EC) sets challenging targets for the reduction of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill. We consulted earlier this year on a system of tradable landfill permits for waste disposal authorities. We will announce the final form of the scheme in due course and will introduce a Bill when parliamentary time permits.
	Meeting the Landfill Directive targets will require a greater percentage of household waste to be recycled, and the Government's Waste Strategy 2000 set targets to increase recycling in England and Wales. These targets are:
	To recycle or compost at least 25 per cent. of household waste by 2005.
	To recycle or compost at least 30 per cent. of household waste by 2010.
	To recycle or compost at least 33 per cent. of household waste by 2015.
	To underpin these national targets we have set statutory recycling performance standards for each local authority in England. For example, Surrey county council currently recycles or composts approximately 15 per cent. of waste collected and must increase this to 30 per cent. for 200304 and 36 per cent. for 200506. We will consider future standards in the light of technological advances, with the aim of maximising the recycling and composting of waste.

Recycling

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason the recycling of domestic composting is not counted when assessing local authority performance against recycling targets.

Michael Meacher: We do measure local authority recycling and composting as a percentage of the waste stream. But there are great difficulties with accurately measuring home composting and the volume of waste that local authorities would otherwise have handled.
	There are none the less clear incentives for local authorities to support home composting, including savings in the costs of waste collection and transport.

Recycling

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on methods used for recycling industrial waste.

Michael Meacher: Of the 400 million tonnes or so of waste produced in England and Wales each year around 78 million tonnes is waste produced by industry and commerce. Nearly half of industrial and commercial waste is already recycled and recycling is highest for separately collected waste streams such as metals and scrap equipment and paper and card. The Government are keen to encourage still higher recycling rates and have set a target to reduce the amount of industrial and commercial waste sent to landfill to 85 per cent. of the 1998 level by 2005.
	The extension of producer responsibilities will contribute to the achievement of this targetboth through statutory schemes implementing EU legislation such as the Packaging Directive and forthcoming directives on end of life vehicles and waste electronic and electrical equipment and through voluntary schemes such as that with newspaper publishers and one currently being negotiated on junk mail. The Government also fund Envirowise to give advice to businesses on how to minimise their waste and has set up the Waste and Resources Action Programme to develop markets for recycled materials.

Sheep Premium

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she proposes to implement the increased sheep premium payments to the herds recommended by the European Parliament.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 18 October 2001
	The Opinion of the European Parliament on the European Commission's proposal for reform of the sheepmeat regime, under which sheep annual premium payments are made, has not yet been delivered. We expect that the European Parliament will vote on the Opinion later this month. We further expect that the Commission's proposals will be considered by the Council of Ministers in November. Amounts of premium to be paid will be decided by Council taking into account the Opinion of the European Parliament.

Rhizomania Epidemic

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contingency plans she has for (a) a rhizomania epidemic in sugar beet crops and (b) potato brown rot.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 18 October 2001
	The Department has written contingency plans against outbreaks of a number of serious plant pests and diseases, including rhizomania of sugar beet and potato brown rot.
	Statutory measures have been taken against rhizomania since the first UK finding in 1987, to slow the spread of the disease until such time as high-yielding disease tolerant varieties became available to UK farmers. Action has been taken against a further 210 outbreaks discovered during annual official surveys, including 68 so far this year. Disease tolerant varieties are now available and we will be consulting shortly on the future of the containment policy and the UK's protected zone status within the EC. This status imposes precautionary measures on the movement of certain commodities from other countries where rhizomania is already widely established.
	Our contingency plans for outbreaks of potato brown rot reflect the measures set out in EC Directive 98/57 which are aimed at eradication and containment of that disease. Over the last three years we have co-ordinated an exercise to eradicate the bacterium which causes brown rot from a number of river systems in east Anglia and one in Kent. We are currently evaluating the results of that exercise.

Renewable Energy

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what basis municipal incineration is classified as a renewable energy source.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 18 October 2001
	All energy from waste was classified as a renewable energy source under the original Non Fossil Fuels Order. However, the EU Directive on the promotion of electricity from renewable energy sources in the internal energy market classifies only the biodegradable element of waste as a renewable source.
	The Government have recently consulted on their view that waste incineration should not be promoted through the Renewables Obligation (RO) and that such projects will not contribute to the Government's proposed target that by 2010 renewable sources eligible for the RO should comprise 10 per cent. of sales by licensed electricity suppliers.

Regional Advisory Panels

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to reinstate the former MAFF regional advisory panels.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 18 October 2001
	We are currently consulting a wide range of rural interests, including farmers, on the detail of proposed new national and regional advisory structures to reflect the new Department's range of responsibilities and our fresh regional focus through the Government Office in each region. We are proceeding with plans to set up regional rural affairs forums as proposed in last year's Rural White Paper. These will involve the regional development agencies and other service providers and external stakeholders. They will also be able to refer issues to a new Rural Affairs Forum for England. Regional consultation groups which already advise on the specific provisions of the England Rural Development Programme will continue to operate as before but will also be able to raise wider issues with the new regional forums.

Biomass Energy

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many hectares of UK farmland produced biomass in the last 12 months.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 18 October 2001
	There are approximately 1,500 hectares of purpose grown energy crops in the UK. In addition, material from forests and straw from agricultural crops is used for the production of renewable energy.

Landfill Sites

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tonnes of (a) glass, (b) paper, (c) metals and (d) textiles which are collected for recycling were disposed of in landfill sites in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 18 October 2001
	The Department does not record this information. However, what is known is that in 19992000 approximately 29 million tonnes of municipal waste was collected by local authorities. Of this approximately 81 per cent. was sent to landfill and 11 per cent. was considered to have been recycled. 395,000 tonnes of glass, 922,000 tonnes of paper and card, 277,000 tonnes of metal and white goods and 46,000 tonnes of textiles were collected for recycling by local authorities in 19992000. Figures for 200001 are not yet known.

Correspondence

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what was the average length of time taken for her Department to provide substantive replies to letters from hon. Members in the last year for which figures are available.

Elliot Morley: Since June 2001 the average length of time taken for the Department to provide replies to letters from hon. Members was 29 working days. Although this is longer than the departmental target of 15 working days we are working hard to ensure that this record is improved and the target met. The Department has suffered severe disruption due to allocating priority to defeating the foot and mouth epidemic. I accept this is not an excuse for not giving hon. Members good service, and now that normality is returning to the Department one of our urgent priorities is to rectify any weakness in our service delivery.

Foot and Mouth

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cases are being investigated by her Department for (a) fraudulent claims and (b) the deliberate transmission of foot and mouth disease.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 22 October 2001
	Two claims for compensation in respect of animals slaughtered due to foot and mouth disease are currently being investigated by DEFRA's legal department.
	As regards possible cases of deliberate transmission of foot and mouth disease, the Department has investigated three cases and found them to be unsubstantiated. One further case is currently under investigation.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she is taking to ensure animal welfare in areas defined as high risk in relation to foot and mouth disease.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 15 October 2001
	The Animal Movement Licensing System allows foot and mouth disease susceptible animals to move for commercial and welfare reasons. Limited movement in high risk counties in infected areas is also possible. The arrangements are intended to strike a balance between the commercial and welfare needs of farmers and their animals, and the need to contain and eradicate foot and mouth disease.

Foot and Mouth

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason further blood tests are carried out in protection zones after blood test results from the infected premises and contiguous cull farms have proved to be negative.

Elliot Morley: Many foot and mouth disease (FMD) infected premises are confirmed on clinical grounds, by the vet on the spot in liaison with vets at DEFRA HQ. Subsequent negative results from blood tests do not necessarily mean that there was no disease on the premises. Blood tests for FMD antibodies are carried out on all farms with sheep and goats within 3 km of infected premises to check for presence of the disease. Blood sampling has to take place at least 21 days after preliminary cleansing and disinfection of the infected premises and this interval should allow time for any infected animals to produce detectable antibodies. A similar procedure was followed in France, Ireland and the Netherlands as part of the process of demonstrating freedom from FMD.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the (a) safety and (b) marketing in the UK of milk and meat from animals vaccinated against foot and mouth disease.

Elliot Morley: The Veterinary Medicines Directorate has assessed the foot and mouth disease vaccines that might be used in the UK for safety in relation to the consumer. They concluded that there are no risks to human health associated with vaccination of animals intended for the production of milk or meat for human consumption. This assessment is based on the fact that these vaccines consist of purified, inactivated viruses together with a number of other ingredients which are widely used in other vaccines for animals. The Food Standards Agency has also considered this issue and is satisfied that the use of such a vaccine would not have implications for food safety.
	There has been no official assessment on marketing in the UK of milk and meat from animals vaccinated against foot and mouth disease. Information about the disease concerning vaccination against foot and mouth disease can be found on the DEFRA foot and mouth disease website www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reports she has received of bovine body parts being found in the countryside on land where animals have not previously been slaughtered because of foot and mouth disease.

Elliot Morley: A report was received by DEFRA's Newcastle office that part of a cow's tongue had been found by a gateway on a farm in Northumberland. The Veterinary Officer who inspected the tongue did not consider it to be infected. A report was also received in June by the Leeds office that a decayed tongue was lying in a road. It was collected and disposed of by a Veterinary Officer.

Foot and Mouth

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to promote support schemes for those affected by the foot and mouth crisis, in accordance with the twelfth recommendation of the Haskins report.

Alun Michael: We will shortly respond to both the Haskins report and the report of the Rural Task Force.
	Meanwhile, the Government have been actively raising awareness among affected businesses of the financial aid available to help cope with the impact of foot and mouth disease. The Small Business Service has sent out 3.7 million copies of their leaflet Coping with Foot and Mouth Diseasehelp for business via banks, post offices, trade associations, employer organisations, etc. Business advice fact sheets have been posted on DEFRA's website, http://www.defra.gov.uk/, and we have set up help lines. The regional development agencies have also been actively promoting the Business Recovery Fund.
	Preliminary results from research by Prism Consulting for the Department in September reveals that 40 per cent. of businesses had sought assistance from an outside organisationcentral or local Government, or through the regional development agencies, Business Links etc.which is an improvement on earlier results. We continue to look at the most effective means to engage the rural business community in order to make sure that assistance gets to those businesses with the most pressing need.

Foot and Mouth

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when farmers can continue with normal farming practice after their land has been used for the incineration of livestock as part of the eradication of foot and mouth.

Elliot Morley: Monitoring carried out by the Environment Agency for the Department of Health has confirmed that there is very little risk to human health following the removal of ash from the incineration of carcases. The Food Standards Agency considers that the available results indicate that there is no additional risk to health through the food supply. Farmers may therefore resume farming once the removal of ash has been completed.

Foot and Mouth

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the Government have made of pollution of land where incineration of livestock took place as part of the eradication of the foot and mouth epidemic; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Where possible the Government have arranged for ash from the incineration process to be buried on site. This has only occurred following Environment Agency permission in accordance with the Groundwater Regulations. The Government are currently consulting with the Environment Agency on a programme of on-going monitoring of ash burial sites.
	In circumstances where the Environment Agency has assessed that ash cannot be buried on site then it has been disposed of at a licensed landfill site.
	Monitoring carried out by the Environment Agency for the Department of Health has confirmed that there is very little risk to human health following the removal of ash from the surface of the land.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) holdings and (b) other premises in Cumbria (i) refused to give up sheep for the 3 km cull and (ii) still have sheep on their premises.

Elliot Morley: In total, 375 holdings in Cumbria did not participate in the 3 km cull which ended on 24 May. All premises involved had or were allocated a holding number so no other premises were involved. Approximately 242 of these holdings still have sheep on the premises.

Foot and Mouth

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will set out the number of payments to farmers following foot and mouth disease of (a) less than 100,000, (b) between 100,000 and 200,000, (c) between 200,000 and 300,000. (d) between 300,000 and 400,000, (e) between 400,000 and 500,000, (f) between 500,000 and 600,000, (g) between 600,000 and 700,000, (h) between 700,000 and 800,000, (i) between 800,000 and 900,000, (j) between 900,000 and 1 million, and (k) in excess of 1 million;
	(2)  how many individual payments have been made to farmers as a consequence of foot and mouth disease.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 15 October 2001
	The numbers of individual payments made to farmers since the beginning of the foot and mouth disease outbreak are as follows:
	
		
			 Amount  Number of payments 
		
		
			 0 to 99,999 10,180 
			 100,000 to 199,999 1,257 
			 200,000 to 299,999 603 
			 300,000 to 399,999 364 
			 400,000 to 499,999 223 
			 500,000 to 599,999 141 
			 600,000 to 699,999 92 
			 700,000 to 799,999 58 
			 800,000 to 899,999 43 
			 900,000 to 999,999 29 
			 1,000,000 and over 68 
			  
			 Total 13,058 
		
	
	The number of payments does not equate to the number of infected premises since the Department has, in some cases, made separate payments for animals slaughtered, and for seized or destroyed items.

Kyoto Protocol

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on progress towards ratification of the Kyoto Protocol.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 15 October 2001
	The UK is committed to the EU's target of ratification and entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol by 2002. The European Commission is expected to publish shortly its proposal for formalising the emission reductions to be delivered by the EU under the Protocol.

Quota Hopping

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent action she has taken to prevent quota hopping.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 15 October 2001
	From 1 January 1999 all British registered fishing vessels over 10m catching more than 2 tonnes of quota stocks have had to demonstrate an economic link with coastal communities in the UK. A full report on the first year of operation was published in November 2000 and placed in the Library of the House. There was almost total compliance; foreign-owned UK vessels increased their landings and expenditure in the UK, and additional quota was made available to inshore fishermen in the under 10m fleet and the non-sector. A report on compliance in 2000 will be published later this year.

Flood Defences

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to improve flood defences.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 15 October 2001
	The Government have sought to reduce the risk of flooding by investing in effective flood warning arrangements and flood defences in the highest risk areas. Funding for the Department's programme is increasing from 66 million in 200001 to 114 million in 200304.
	This Department provides funding to the Environment Agency, local authorities and internal drainage boards for capital flood and coastal defence works that meet certain criteria. Responsibility for deciding which projects to promote and their timing rests with the operating authorities.

Flood Defences

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has held with the Environment Agency regarding measures to stop flooding of the (a) Ouse, (b) Uck and (c) Cuckmere; and if he will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I have attended meetings with concerned residents, such as those from Lewes, at which the Environment Agency has been represented. However responsibility for operational flood management rests with the agency and I have not discussed specifically with them their plans for the Ouse, Uck and Cuckmere. DEFRA's regional flood defence engineer will be involved in discussions on the technical aspects of any plans. I am always interested in the progress of flood defence schemes and hold regular meetings with the agency.

Organic Farming

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the proportion of UK agricultural land under organic production is; and what the proportion is in (a) the EU member states and (b) the USA.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 15 October 2001
	As at the end of June 2001 around 3.4 per cent. of UK agricultural land was under organic management.
	Figures for end 2000 produced by Organic Europe www.organic-europe.net indicate that the proportion of total agricultural land under organic management in other EU member states is as follows:
	
		
			  Member state Organic area as a percentage of total agricultural area 
		
		
			 Austria 8.0 
			 Belgium 1.5 
			 Denmark 6.2 
			 Finland 6.8 
			 France 1.3 
			 Germany 3.2 
			 Greece 0.7 
			 Ireland 0.8 
			 Italy 7.0 
			 Luxembourg 0.8 
			 Netherlands 1.4 
			 Portugal 1.3 
			 Spain 1.5 
			 Sweden 6.3 
		
	
	Information published by the USDA www.ers.usda.gov from the 1997 Census of Agriculture shows land under organic management to be around 0.15 per cent. of total agricultural land in the USA.

Departmental Responsibilities

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's responsibilities in relation to food hygiene.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 15 October 2001
	Food hygiene policy is the responsibility of the Food Standards Agency. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is responsible for the implementation of the enforcement aspects of Community and UK legislation concerning the hygiene of food imported from third countries.

Departmental Responsibilities

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's responsibilities are in relation to the environment of inner city areas.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 15 October 2001
	My Department's responsibilities for protecting and improving the environment and conserving and enhancing biodiversity cover all areas, including inner cities.

Nuclear Power

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's policy towards nuclear power and the disposal of nuclear waste.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 15 October 2001
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Mrs. Lawrence) on 22 October 2001, Official Report, column 25W. This describes our consultation paper Managing radioactive waste safely. The Government policy on nuclear power is described on page 18 of the consultation paper.

Departmental Properties

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the number, value and location of properties newly leased in each of the last five years by her Department, broken down by leases by the Department itself, its next step agencies and its non-departmental public bodies, differentiating between purchases made as a result of the creation of new bodies and those purchases made by established bodies.

Elliot Morley: The information requested in respect of the Department and its next step agencies is available in the Libraries of the House. The Department does not hold centrally information about the properties occupied by non-departmental public bodies.

Food (Pesticide Residues)

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of (a) vegetables, (b) fruit, (c) cereal products and (d) meat products available for consumption in the UK has been sampled for pesticide residues in the past 12 months.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 15 October 2001
	In the calendar year 2000, 2,304 food samples were analysed for a wide range of pesticide residues under the Governments annual pesticide residues surveillance programme. The programme generated results for about 90,000 pesticide/commodity food combinations. Specifically, 395 samples of fruit, 643 samples of vegetables, 71 samples of cereal/cereal products and 350 samples of animal products including meat were tested during 2000.
	The majority of samples are collected at retail level and information is not available on the size of the consignment from which samples are collected. It is not therefore possible to calculate the proportion of total supplies sampled. As a result of the provision of additional funding by the Government and value for money improvements in the programme we are boosting the total number of samples collected for analysis to 4,000 during 2001.

Livestock Movements Licences

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff in Worcestershire Trading Standards Department are working with her Department on issuing autumn livestock movements licences; what other responsibilities these individuals have; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I understand from Worcestershire county council that three staff are employed on autumn movement work on Tuesday, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays with an additional person working on Mondays and Fridays more staff would be deployed if the workload should arise.

Nuclear Power Generation

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the environmental impact of nuclear power generation.

Michael Meacher: Work is under way within the EU to establish a framework for the assessment of the environmental impact of ionising radiation. The project is due to finish in October 2003. A recent study on behalf of the Environment Agency and English Nature Impact Assessment of Ionising Radiation in Wildlife, published in July this year, concluded that wildlife is not significantly impacted by exposure to ionising radiation from authorised discharges. The study, however, recommended some specific areas that needed to be investigated further.
	Proposals for liquid or aerial discharges of radioactive waste, or the disposal of solid low-level radioactive waste, are subject to authorisation by the appropriate regulator. In examining such proposals the regulators satisfy themselves, among other things, that alternatives, where they exist, are properly evaluated and that the resulting authorisation will result in a low environmental impact and that it is based on the best practicable environmental option.
	Last year the Government published for consultation a draft UK Strategy for Radioactive Discharges 200102, and draft Statutory Guidance on the Regulation of Radioactive Discharges into the Environment from Nuclear Licensed Sites. Final versions of both documents will be published shortly. The former is the Government's strategy for complying with the commitments it and other members of OSPAR entered into in 1998 for reducing radioactive discharges into the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic in the period up to 2020. The second is guidance to the Environment Agency about the setting of radioactive discharge limits which will help to ensure compliance with the objectives of the strategy.
	The Government published in September this year a consultation paper Managing Radioactive Waste Safely. The purpose of the consultation is to set in train a process for deciding how radioactive waste can best be managed. Nuclear power generation contributes 23 per cent. of the total volume of radioactive waste. Nuclear power contributes about 26 per cent. of the UK's electricity supply and plays an important role in helping the UK to meet its climate change target. In 1998 nuclear power generation was estimated to have reduced UK carbon emissions by between 12 and 24 million tonnes. At present, high and intermediate-level waste from nuclear power generation is safely stored at nuclear licensed sites. Low-level waste is mostly disposed of at BNFL's facility at Drigg in Cumbria.

CAP Dairy Regime

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her priorities are for the next reform of the Common Agricultural Policy dairy regime.

Elliot Morley: Our priority remains to seek an orderly end to the bureaucratic and restrictive system of milk quotas.

Farm Veterinary Care

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the ability of farmers to afford adequate veterinary care for their animals.

Elliot Morley: Farmers have a duty to maintain the welfare of animals for which they are responsible, including the provision of veterinary care. This is a normal business expense of livestock farmers and as such, estimates of total income from farming are net of this expenditure.

Sheep

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she is considering in relation to the traceability of sheep; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 26 October 2001
	Traceability of sheep in England and Wales is at present secured by tagging them with the number of the holding from which they made their first post-foot and mouth disease move, combined with very strict movement controls. We are currently considering how continued traceability could be secured when freer movements are permitted. We have already held some discussions with industry organisations on this subject and plan to hold others shortly.

Sheep

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultation she has had with the livestock auction industry in relation to the traceability of sheep; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 26 October 2001
	Representatives of the livestock auction industry have been present at recent meetings to discuss traceability of sheep in England and Wales in the context of autumn and spring movements. We recognise the interests of the livestock auction industry in this subject; they will be invited to participate in further discussions on traceability.

Voluntary Sector

John Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to improve support for the voluntary sector in rural areas. [R]

Alun Michael: Last year's Rural White Paper (Cm 4909), section 12.5, sets out work which is now in hand to strengthen the voluntary and community sector in rural areas. The impact of foot and mouth disease has revealed the pressing need to sustain the health of rural voluntary and community activity, and the creation of the new Department, with for the first time an explicit focus on rural affairs, has enabled us to enhance our capacity to work with the sector. I am holding a series of meetings with representatives of rural voluntary and community bodies and will consider what further measures may be needed.

GM Crops

Jackie Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what post-trial procedures are in place to (a) ensure destruction of the root system, (b) ensure the soil is free from GMOs, and (c) monitor levels of GMOs in other crops in relation to land used in farm scale evaluations of GM crops.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 20 July 2001
	The post-trial procedures for each of the three types of crops grown as part of the farm scale evaluations are set out as follows. In addition the crops are grown in accordance with the industry body, SCIMAC, code of practice and guidelines on the growing of GM herbicide tolerant crops. These specify the agronomic practices to be followed and require monitoring and removal of volunteers in subsequent years.
	For oil seed rape, the conditions of the research (Part B) consent require that the seeds produced by the plants are harvested and removed from the site. The field is then ploughed destroying the remaining plant material including the roots. Fallen seeds will remain in the soil. The consent holder is required to monitor the site in the subsequent two years, destroy any oil seed rape volunteers which germinate and submit a monitoring report to the Department.
	For beet, the conditions of the consent require that at harvest the beet are lifted and removed from the site. The field is then ploughed destroying the remaining plant material including the roots. The GM plants are not permitted to flower so no seeds will be produced. The consent holder is required to monitor the site in the subsequent year, destroy any beet volunteers which arise and submit a monitoring report to the Department.
	The GM maize in the evaluations has a Europe-wide approval for cultivation under Directive 90/220, which does not impose any conditions on growing. However, under the terms of the agreement with SCIMAC setting up the farm-scale evaluations the plants will be harvested and removed from the site which will then be ploughed destroying any remaining roots. Maize does not give rise to volunteers in subsequent seasons.

Summer Recess

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) press notices and (b) consultation documents were issued by her Department during the summer recess.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 23 October 2001
	(a) The DEFRA press office issued 155 news releases from 20 July to 15 October 2001.
	(b) A central register to log consultation documents which have been issued does not currently exist within DEFRA. From 20 July to 15 October 2001, 24 consultations were posted on the DEFRA website.
	The texts of these press releases and consultation exercises can be found at the website www.defra.gov.uk.

BSE

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason the announcement of the results of her Department's tests into evidence for BSE in sheep has been postponed.

Elliot Morley: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 22 October 2001, Official Report, columns 1922.

BSE

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the reasons for testers confusing sheep and bovine brains.

Elliot Morley: An independent risk assessment company has been asked to perform a detailed audit of the Institute for Animal Health experiment, including how the relevant samples were stored and handled. We have also asked the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) to undertake to a longer time scale a rigorous assessment of the chain of custody arrangements for the IAH project. We will not know the full facts until the results are reported.

BSE

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to commission further research into sheep brains and BSE.

Elliot Morley: We will carry out a thorough review of the full range of scientific studies presently being undertaken in this area. In doing so we will take account of the research being undertaken elsewhere in Europe and the views of the Food and Standards Agency and the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee. Findings will be made available to the House.

Contagious Disease (Animals)

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what importance she attaches to traceability with regard to prevention of outbreaks of contagious disease in animals; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 26 October 2001
	Traceability does not in itself give protection against outbreaks of disease, but it does enable possible contacts to be identified fully and more rapidly. Individual tracing of cattle is already possible and licensing of movement improves traceability for pigs, sheep and goats as well as cattle.

EU Agrimonetary Compensation

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Scottish arable farmers have been compensated from European agrimonetary compensation.

Elliot Morley: This is a matter for the Scottish Executive.

Hill and Dairy Farming

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to reinstate the task forces on hill and dairy farming and the supply chain; and when she expects them to publish their evidence.

Elliot Morley: After an enforced break due to the demands of the foot and mouth disease, the milk task force resumed its work and on 12 October 2001 it held its first meeting since its activities were suspended in April. The milk task force hopes that it will be able to report quickly and to feed its findings into the Policy Commission on Food and Farming. No specific deadline has been set for it to complete its work. On completion, the milk task force's report will be placed in the Libraries of the House and will be publicly accessible on the DEFRA website http://www.defra.gov.uk/ and in the library of the Department at 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR.
	The inputs task force has completed its work. Its report was published on 9 May and is available in the Libraries of the House and on the DEFRA website.
	The hills task force was set up on 23 November 2000 to do a specific job and report quickly. Its report was received in March and is available in the library of the Department at 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR.

Farm Worker Incomes

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the effect of the crisis in agriculture on farm workers' annual incomes.

Elliot Morley: The Government do not monitor the annual incomes of farm workers directly. However, the earnings and hours worked by farm workers in England and Wales are measured by a statistical survey each September. The latest results, for September 2000, were published in January 2001. A copy of the results has been placed in the Library. Results for September 2001 will be published in January 2002.
	In England and Wales minimum agricultural wage rates and conditions of employment are set by the Agricultural Wages Board (an independent body). A new agricultural wages order implementing this year's wage negotiations came into force on 1 October 2001. Some workers will be paid more than the minimum wage rates.

Nicarbazin and Dimetridazole

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's policy in relation to the proposals from the European Commission to remove the authorisation for the anti-coccidial drugs Nicarbazin and Dimetridazole.

Elliot Morley: The UK made representations to the Council of Ministers on 23 October opposing the Commission proposal to withdraw the authorisation of nicarbazin.
	The proposal to withdraw nicarbazin was due solely to the company responsible for the product not having supplied a complete data dossier for re-evaluation by the agreed deadline.
	The Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the Food Standards Agency are not aware of any evidence that nicarbazin is mutagenic. At the March 2001 Standing Committee for Animal Nutrition, the Commission agreed to postpone any decision on the future authorisation of nicarbazin and to allow the company time to submit additional information. The company commissioned the tests required to generate the missing data, and all reports are expected to be submitted by February 2002. Despite this, the Commission included nicarbazin in the proposal.
	In view of this and potential serious bird health and welfare problems, the UK believed that the authorisation for nicarbazin should not have been withdrawn simply to meet an arbitrary Commission deadline.
	Regarding dimetridazole, the UK did not oppose its inclusion in the proposal to withdraw authorisation.
	The dossier submitted by the company responsible for the product was inadequate, consisting only of an index and no data. The company did not indicate a firm commitment at an early stage to submit the missing data. The Commission did not offer the company time to submit the data and unlike nicarbazin there has been evidence of safety concerns. The rapporteur for the product, France, indicated at a Standing Committee meeting that it would not support a proposal for the authorisation of DMZ to continue. Under those circumstances the UK felt it was impossible to argue for the continued authorisation of dimetridazole.
	It should be noted that despite the UK's representations to the Council of Ministers, we failed to get the Commission to reconsider the proposal to withdraw nicarbazin, and along with dimetridazole the authorisations will be withdrawn. This will result in the products being removed from the market six months after the commission regulation is published.

Agricultural Workers

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were employed in the agricultural industry in a (a) paid and (b) unpaid capacity, and (i) full-time and (ii) part-time (A) at the latest date for which figures are available and (B) in each of the last five years.

Elliot Morley: The latest information available for England is from the June 2000 Agricultural Census. Results for 2001 will be available later this year. The labour questions were changed in 1998 to allow more detailed information on full/part time and paid/unpaid labour to be collected. The available information is shown in the table.
	
		Thousand head 
		
			  1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 Total workers (England) 195.8 191.9 189.5 189.1 176.1 153.5 
			 Salaried Managers(20) 6.7 6.9 6.9 10.9 12.1 9.9 
			 Full-time n/a n/a n/a 8.7 9.4 8.1 
			 Part-time n/a n/a n/a 2.2 2.7 1.8 
			 Regular workers 126.0 124.2 122.5 120.2 110.8 96.9 
			 Full-time 83.4 81.6 81.6 79.2 73.6 64.2 
			 Paid n/a n/a n/a 76.6 72.1 62.9 
			 Unpaid n/a n/a n/a 2.7 1.5 1.2 
			 Part-time 42.5 42.6 41.9 41.0 37.2 32.7 
			 Paid n/a n/a n/a 30.5 28.8 25.2 
			 Unpaid n/a n/a n/a 10.5 8.4 7.5 
			 Casual/gang 63.2 60.9 60.1 58.1 53.2 46.8 
			 Full-time n/a n/a n/a 15.7 16.1 14.6 
			 Part-time n/a n/a n/a 42.4 36.6 32.1 
		
	
	(20) From 1998 all farmers managing holdings for limited companies were asked to classify themselves as salaried managers.
	Notes:
	1. In 1998 fundamental changes were introduced to the labour questions. It appears that this change may have led to the recording of additional labour not previously included in the census returns. The change in questions has also led to a redistribution of labour between the various categories, most notably for salaried managers. Caution is therefore advised when comparing the 1997 and 1998 results.
	2. Part-time is defined as 39 hours or less.
	3. Figures exclude school children but include trainees employed under an official youth training scheme and paid at Agricultural Wages Board rates or above.
	4. Includes minor holdings.

Milk Consumption

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average daily consumption of milk was in the UK in July.

Elliot Morley: On average in July 2001 the estimated total consumption of liquid milk in the UK was 18 million litres per day.

Food Safety

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she proposes to ensure that scientists involved in public research into food safety are adequately qualified.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	All research projects for the Food Standards Agency are subjected to expert appraisal before being commissioned to ensure that their scientific quality and the competence of the proposer are acceptable.

Food Safety

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will made a statement on the safety of British lamb.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that its advice continues to be that, while consumers should be aware of the theoretical risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in sheep, it does not advise them to avoid consumption of lamb.

Beef Imports

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance the Government issues to consumers wishing to avoid imported beef when it is included in products that do not make the country of origin clear.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	The Food Standards Agency, with the support of the Consumers Association, has published a leaflet for consumers on bovine spongiform encephalopathy and beef. The leaflet advises that, for processed food, if the country of origin is shown on the label, it usually refers to the country where the product was processed, and not necessarily where the beef or other ingredients came from. This is one of the reasons why the FSA is pressing for improved European Union rules on country of origin labelling.

HEALTH

Overseas NHS Operations

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of his Department's budget for the current financial year has been earmarked for NHS operations to be carried out overseas.

Alan Milburn: None; we are devolving control over resources to local health services. In the light of rulings of the European Court of Justice in July this year, I have made it clear to health authorities and primary care trusts that they are now able to commission services from other European countries as part of their wider efforts to reduce waiting times for national health service treatment. However, NHS bodies will need to apply the same criteria to purchasing treatment abroad as they do to purchasing treatment in the NHS or United Kingdom-based independent sector, including value for money.

Hospital Doctors

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital doctors left the NHS in each of the last four years on grounds of (a) retirement, (b) early retirement, (c) ill health and (d) taking up an alternative post.

John Hutton: holding answer 15 October 2001
	Data in the form requested are not available. The number of hospital and community doctors in England and Wales who retired from the national health service in the financial years 1998 to 2001 is in the table. The Others category is indeterminate retirements not available from the computer records.
	
		
			  All retirements Early retirements Ill health retirements Others 
		
		
			 1998 803 175 127 148 
			 1999 698 136 101 112 
			 2000 625 119 98 96 
			 2001 786 140 116 130 
			  
			 Total 2912 570 442 486 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Early retirements includes retirements on the grounds of ill health, premature retirements following redundancy or in the interests of the efficiency of the service and voluntary early retirements before the scheme's normal retirement age of 60.
	2. Ill-health retirements include retirements before and after the scheme's normal retirement age of 60.
	3. Others relate to retirements where the reason for retirement is not yet established.
	4. Hospital doctors include:
	Hospital and community doctors
	Associate Specialist
	Clinical Assistant
	Consultant
	House Officer
	Medical Assistant
	Senior House Officer
	Medical Officerall grades
	Registrar
	Senior Registrar
	Medical Specialist
	5. The NHS Pensions Agency does not hold data on hospital doctors taking up alternative posts.
	Source:
	NHS Pensions Agency

Aventis T25 Maize

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will hold an open public investigation into the health implications of the currently approved trials of Aventis T25 maize.

Michael Meacher: I have been asked to reply.
	I am confident that the current approved trials of Aventis T25 maize do not pose a risk to health and in any case none of the GM crop in the trials will enter the food or feed chain.
	The implications of health of Aventis genetically modified maize known as T25 were assessed during the passage of the marketing dossier through the European GMO regulatory regime. T25 maize was granted regulatory approval under Directive 90/220 for unrestricted cultivation throughout the European Union in 1998 through the French authorities. The dossier, including the assessment of risks to health, is on the public register held by my Department and is available for scrutiny.
	However concerns about the safety of T25 maize for animal feed have been raised and need to be addressed. These concerns have been presented in public as part of the DEFRA public hearing into the seed listing of the variety of T25 known as ChardonLL. This hearing is currently suspended pending further information from the European Commission and the French competent authorities. However, the Government have referred all the written evidence presented to the hearing relating to the safety of T25 to the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment for advice. ACRE has sought further advice on the animal feed issues from the Advisory Committee on Animal Feed. ACRE expects to finalise its advice to Government before the end of the year.
	As part of this re-evaluation we intend to hold an additional open debate involving both Aventis and its critics, where ACRE can question the strength of the scientific evidence from both sides.
	The safety of T25 maize for use in food is regulated by the European novel food regulations and is a matter for the Food Standards Agency.

Heart Surgery

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients waiting for NHS heart surgery in the west Midlands he estimates have (a) had their operations performed privately or (b) died while waiting for that surgery in the last 12 months.

John Hutton: The Department does not collect data about the number of operations performed in the private sector.
	Waiting list mortality data are not collected, nor are data collected on other possible reasons why a patient may be removed from the waiting list prior to treatment, including a change in the patient's place of residence or a move to the private sector.
	We are committed to improving waiting times for cardiac surgery, and in the west midlands initiatives include a new 13 million purpose built cardiac surgery critical care unit which recently opened at the University Hospitals Birmingham national health service trust.
	We are also developing a new purpose built cardiac surgery centre at the Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS trust which is due to open in 2003, and is the first new specialist cardiac centre to be built in the west Midlands for 30 years.

Fines

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons and at whose request his Department increased the level of fine upon conviction of a person other than a registered midwife or registered medical practitioner attending a woman in childbirth to 5,000; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The independent review of the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1997 carried out by JM Consulting in 1998 noted that the level of fine for misuse of title was not as high as in other regulatory bodies and recommended that penalties should be raised. We accepted this recommendation, and this is reflected in draft legislation to establish a new Nursing and Midwifery Council. It will be for the court to decide what penalty to impose in any individual case taking into account all of the relevant circumstances.

Breastfeeding

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to ensure the promotion of breastfeeding in health regions; and when he will publish the results of the study his Department is conducting into barriers to breastfeeding in low income groups.

Jacqui Smith: The infant feeding initiative was launched in May 1999 with an aim to increase the incidence and duration of breastfeeding among those groups of the population where breastfeeding rates are lowest. Two infant feeding advisers were appointed part-time, one a health visitor and one a midwife to act as a focus for developing and implementing strategies for promoting breastfeeding these lower socio-economic groups, and to support the national network of breastfeeding co-ordinators at a regional level.
	A total budget of nearly 3 million over three years from the Public Health Development Fund has been allocated for this initiative. This is more money than had previously been spent on breastfeeding promotion and reflects our commitment to health inequalities that was highlighted by the Acheson Report and has since been reconfirmed with the NHS Plan commitment for increased support for breastfeeding.
	A total of 79 best breastfeeding practice projects have been funded across all regions. The aim is to increase the rates of breastfeeding, both initiation and duration. A summary of the first wave of 31 of these projects is being printed and will be available shortly. Copies of the summary report will be distributed to all health regions and organisations involved in the best breastfeeding practice projects. Increasing the incidence and duration of breastfeeding is a goal shared by all Sure Start initiatives and several health action zone programmes. Many of the best breastfeeding practice projects have now obtained mainstream funding from Sure Start initiatives.

Mental Illness (Employment)

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of those with a diagnosis of severe mental illness were in employment in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) on the latest date available.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not available centrally. However, the psychiatric morbidity survey carried out by the Office for National Statistics and published in 1995 provided some information on the prevalence of psychiatric disorder by employment status. A copy of this report has been placed in the Library. A repeat psychiatric morbidity survey took place in 2000. The results of this survey are not yet available.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the ethnic minority monitoring exercise in respect of mental health services announced on 24 October 2000.

Jacqui Smith: My right hon. Friend the Minister of State has asked the mental health task force to prepare a strategy to address the issues surrounding black and minority ethnic mental health issues. A task force member, Professor Sashidharan, is taking forward the development of a draft strategy under the guidance of the ethnicity and mental health reference group. We expect consultation papers on the draft strategy to be issued in spring 2002.
	While the reference group has yet to finalise the content outline, a survey to find out about the experiences of black and minority ethnic people who use mental health services is being considered as part of the strategy.
	The strategy is aiming to ensure that a range of issues across the mental health national service framework and NHS Plan are addressed.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on talking treatments for those with a diagnosis of severe mental illness; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The mental health national service framework sets out specific targets, service models, performance indicators and milestones for the provision of the most effective services, including talking treatments for people with severe mental illness. In support of this, the Department has commissioned the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to develop a guideline on the management of schizophrenia to cover the full range of effective treatments, including talking therapies.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) available beds and (b) staffed residential places for mentally ill people there were in each of the years since and including 199596, indicating the number of staffed residential places in (i) local authority, (ii) the voluntary sector and (iii) the private sector and the available beds in (A) private hospitals, (B) nursing homes, (C) clinics and (D) the NHS, excluding day care.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is given in the tables.
	
		Table 1: Number of available beds for adults with mental illness, in nursing homes, private hospitals and clinics and national health service facilities in England, 1996 to 2000
		
			 Rounded numbers  
			 Year Total number of available beds Registered nursing beds in private hospitals and Clinics(21),(22) (A,C) Registered nursing beds in nursing homes(22),(23) (B) NHS facilities average daily number of available beds(24) (D) 
		
		
			 1996 66,900 1,000 26,400 39,500 
			 1997 67,300 800 27,700 38,800 
			 1998 64,700 1,300 25,500 37,900 
			 1999 66,000 1,500 27,500 37,100 
			 2000 64,200 800 27,900 35,500 
		
	
	(21) Registered beds in private hospitals and clinics are not available separately.
	(22) For 199596 and 199697, refers to date during the period 1 October to 31 March. The basis of data collection changed in 1998 and from 1998 onwards figures are as at 31 March.
	(23) Registered nursing beds in general nursing homes and mental nursing homes (including registered nursing beds in dual registered homes).
	(24) The average daily number of beds during the year ending 31 March.
	Note:
	Figures may not add to totals because of rounding
	Source:
	Department of Health annual returns
	
		Table 2: Number of residential places for adults with mental illness(25) in staffed residential care homes, by type of home, England, 1996 to 2000
		
			  Rounded numbers  
			 As at 31 March All residential places Residential places in local authority staffed homes(25)(i) Residential places in voluntary homes (ii) Residential places in private homes(26) (iii) Residential places in dual registered homes 
		
		
			 1996 25,900 4,700 5,500 15,000 700 
			 1997 36,900 4,900 7,100 22,800 2,100 
			 1998 38,700 4,500 6,900 24,200 3,000 
			 1999 38,200 3,500 6,100 25,900 2,800 
			 2000 40,000 4,100 6,600 25,900 3,400 
		
	
	(25) Residential places for people with mental illness including older people who are mentally infirm.
	(26) Includes places in small homes (less than four places)
	Note:
	Figures may not add to totals because of rounding
	Source:
	Department of Health annual returns

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of calls to NHS Direct are associated with mental illness.

Jacqui Smith: NHS Direct received 3.5 million calls during 200001, of which between 6 and 8 per cent. were logged as mental health-related. However, there is evidence from an independent study commissioned by the Department to suggest that a higher number of mental health calls were actually received and handled. A copy of the report of the evaluation (March 2001) has been published by King's College London Institute of Psychiatry. Methods for recording calls are being reviewed to align them closely with the clinical assessment system.

Mental Health

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce a statutory right to advocacy for users of mental health services.

Jacqui Smith: In the White Paper, Reforming the Mental Health Act, which was published in December 2000, we set out our proposal to introduce in a new mental health act an independent specialist advocacy service for patients subject to powers under a new act. The Department has commissioned work on how best this might be achieved.
	There are no plans to introduce a statutory right to advocacy for users of mental health services not subject to compulsory powers. However the mental health national service framework makes it clear that mental health service providers should ensure that specific arrangements are made for the provision of advocacy services.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the money to improve wards and conditions for psychiatric patients announced on 6 April has been spent; and where and when.

Jacqui Smith: 5 million was allocated for 200102 as follows:
	
		
			
		
		
			 Portsmouth Healthcare National Health Service Trust (St. James Hospital) 500,000 
			 Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust (Fairmile Hospital) 250,000 
			 Avon and Wiltshire Partnership Mental Health Trust(Barrow Hospital) 500,000 
			 East London and City Mental Health Trust (St. Clements) 380,000 
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust (St. Anne's) 265,000 
			 County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust (the Gables and County Hospital, the Pierremont Unit) 270,000 
			 Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust (St. Lukes, Middlesbrough) 535,000 
			 Worcester Community and MH NHS Trust (Redditch, Worcester, Bromsgrove, Kidderminster) 150,000 
			 Coventry Healthcare Trust (Caludon Centre) 150,000 
			 Shropshire Community NHS Trust (Telford and Wrekin, Shrewsbury) 100,000 
			 North Birmingham Mental Health NHS Trust (Small Heath) 100,000 
			 South Birmingham Mental Health NHS Trust (Queen Elizabeth Hospital) 100,000 
			 Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Trust (Lister and QE2 Hospitals) 700,000 
			 Rotherham Priority Health Services NHS Trust (Rotherham) 300,000 
			 Doncaster and South Humber Healthcare Trust (Scunthorpe and Goole) 200,000 
			 North Sefton and West Lancashire Community NHS Trust (Scarisbrick unit, the Hesketh Centre) 210,000 
			 Tameside and Glossop Community and Priority Services NHS Trust (Wards 35/36) 110,000 
			 St. Helen's and Knowsley Hospital NHS Trust (Whiston Hospital) 180,000 
			  
			 Total 5,000,000 
		
	
	Information on actual spend to date is not held centrally.

Pharmacies and Dispensing Practices

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to support pharmacies and dispensing practices in rural areas.

Hazel Blears: We have agreed, in principle, to implement certain changes proposed jointly by the general practitioners committee of the British Medical Association and the pharmaceutical services negotiating committee to the regulations governing the award of national health service dispensing rights in rural areas. The changes are intended to increase stability for rural pharmacies and dispensing practices.

GPs (Retirement)

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average age at retirement of GP principals was in each year since 1974.

John Hutton: Information in the form requested is not available. The indicative average retirement age, based on past experience, of principal and assistant medical practitioners, in normal health, at each quinquennial valuation of the National Health Service Pension Scheme for England and Wales is set out in the table.
	
		
			 Valuation Period Average Age Men Average Age Women 
		
		
			 19691974 63.5 62.5 
			 19741979 62.0 61.0 
			 19791984 62.0 61.0 
			 19841989 62.0 61.0 
			 19891994 62.5 62.5 
			 19941999 62.5 62.5

Private Finance Initiative

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 19 July 2001, Official Report, column 434W, on the private finance initiative, if he will state the average savings as a percentage of the public sector comparator for the 23 hospitals cited in his answer; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The savings of the private finance initiative option as a percentage of the public sector comparators for the 23 hospitals range from less than 1 per cent. to 7.14 per cent., with the average being 1.75 per cent.
	The comparison figures of the PFI and public service comparator options at the time each scheme reached financial close have been reported to the Health Select Committee.

Social Services Departments

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the source is of the moneys to be allocated to social services departments through the community care services specific grant.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 22 October 2001
	The 300 million allocated to councils over this year and next is additional funding for social care. The increase in the personal social services settlement for 200102 over 200001 is now 4.7 per cent. in real terms compared with 3.7 per cent. before this grant was announced. Similarly, the increase is now 3.7 per cent. in 200203 compared with 2.9 per cent. before this grant was announced.
	Recognising the key role that local government has to play in delivering community services, 80 million of this funding has been provided by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, and a further 20 million from Her Majesty's Treasury. The remaining 200 million will come from resources the Department has identified which previously were not earmarked for social services.

Coventry and Warwickshire University Hospital Trust

Mike O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure improvements take place in the running of Coventry and Warwickshire University Hospital Trust following the publication of the recent report by the Commission for Health Improvement.

John Hutton: The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) report highlighted several issues at the Coventry and Warwickshire University Hospitals national health service trust that need to be improved. The trust was given three months to produce an agreed action plan for improvement, and is also expected to show signs of improved performance during this time.
	Officials from the West Midlands Regional Office (WMRO) met the executive directors of the trust to give feedback and guidance on the formulation of their action plan. This is an evolving strategy requiring further work to demonstrate how the change will be delivered. The performance of the trust will be monitored monthly by officials from the WMRO during the initial three month period.
	Clinical safety is paramount in the provision of health care and CHI plays a central role in our plans to drive up the quality of care in the NHS, as outlined in the NHS Plan.

Digital Hearing Aids

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many digital hearing aids have been fitted under the NHS's pilot project on hearing services to date;
	(2)  what change there has been to the estimated number of people in England to benefit from the pilot project in digital hearing aids since 18 January 2000.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 23 October 2001
	By the end of September 2001, 11,080 digital hearing aids had been provided for adults and children as part of the modernising national health service hearing aid services project. 10,552 hearing aids were for adults and 528 hearing aids were for children.
	Last year, the Department estimated that between 20,000 and 30,000 people would benefit from being involved in the project. We now expect more than 20,000 digital hearing aids to have been prescribed, and 18,000 adults to have digital hearing aids, as part of the modernisation project, by March 2002.

Digital Hearing Aids

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent estimate his Department has made of the cost of making digital hearing aids universally available among the hard of hearing;
	(2)  what recent representations he has received on levels of NHS audiology provision and the availability of digital hearing aids.

Jacqui Smith: The Department has received recent correspondence from the Royal National Institute for Deaf People about the modernisation of hearing aid services and the availability of digital hearing aids.
	The Institute of Hearing Research is evaluating the modernising national health service hearing aid services project, which includes collecting information on the cost of providing hearing aids. The evaluation report will help planning of the further modernisation of hearing aid services.
	Subject to favourable evaluation, we have earmarked funding to support modernisation of hearing aid services and expect to invest up to an extra 25 million by 200304. The cost of providing digital hearing aids will be determined by the speed and scale of modernisation.

Tourette's Syndrome

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people under the age of 18 are diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome in the UK.

Jacqui Smith: We do not collect figures of the number of young people under the age of 18 who are diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome. The prevalence is estimated to be in the region of three to six per thousand children in the general population.

Tourette's Syndrome

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what basic level of support is offered to the parents of young people with Tourette's Syndrome.

Jacqui Smith: Parents of young people with Tourette's Syndrome should expect to receive support to help understand their child's difficulty and to assist in their child's care from services that are treating the child. Parents can seek additional information and advice from the Tourette Syndrome (United Kingdom) Association.

Free Personal Care

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Care, with specific reference to the provision of free personal care; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 26 October 2001
	We announced our response to the Royal Commission on Long Term Care in the annexe to the NHS Plan which we published in July 2000, copies of which are available in the Library.

Overseas Nurses

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to speed up the processing of the registration of overseas nurses at Yeovil District Hospital by the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Registration is a matter for the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC). However, the UKCC advises that a number of these applications for registration have now been processed. The UKCC is awaiting further information in order to complete the work on the remaining applications.

Health Spending

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date he expects to meet his target of raising the share of national income spent on health in England to the average level of the other countries in the European Union; what his estimate is of the current gap between these two figures; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: We aim to increase total health expenditure in the United Kingdom up to the average of the countries of the European Union, which is around eight per cent. of gross domestic product. By the end of the present spending review period (200304), we expect that total UK expenditure on health will have reached 7.7 per cent. of gross domestic product. Spending beyond this period will be decided in future spending reviews.
	The figures are provided for the UK rather than England, because this is the level at which there are the most reliable figures for gross domestic product and figures for private health expenditure.

Waiting Times

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards meeting his targets of reducing waiting times to (a) a maximum of six months by the end of 2005 for in-patients and (b) a maximum of three months by 2005 for out-patients.

John Hutton: In order to achieve maximum waiting times of six months for in-patients and three months for out-patients by 2005, shorter maximum waiting times are being phased. This year the national health service is working towards reducing the maximum in-patient waiting time of 18 months now to 15 months and the waiting time standard for a first out-patient appointment of over six months now to a maximum of six months by the end of March 2002. In-patient waiting times will continue to fall on a staged basis each year from 18 months through to 15, 12, nine down to six months. Waiting times for a first out-patient appointment will also fall from six months, to five, four, then eventually three months by 2005.